mm 



LIB RARY OF CONGRE SS. 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



iUG 2 1186 



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I 




CONJECTURAL DIAGRAM OP MILTON'S COSMOGRAPHY. 

VERTICAL SECTION. 



CONJECTURAL DIAGRAM OF MILTON'S 
COSMOGRAPHY. 

VERTICAL SECTION. 

The empyreal Heavens, first created, containing hill, 
dale, water of life, flowers, fruit, angels, the throne of 
God, and proceeding thence a magnificent road, "pow- 
dered with stars," outward to the crystal wall to a vast 
gate opening on unformed Chaos. This was the only 
place in space that had felt the touch of creative power, 
till the revolt in consequence of the divine command to 
worship the Son. {Book V. 600-6 is) 

Then followed rebellion, war of angels, rout of Satan 
and his angels, and their falling nine days, pursued by 
lightnings, through dark Chaos, into the Hell created to 
receive them. {Book VI. 86j-8?o.) 

A few days after, God sends his Supreme Son to create 
the solar system, and the stars, in Chaos, under the floor 
of Heaven, and to people the Earth with children of God 
who should take the vacated thrones of Satan and his 
expelled crew of rebels. 

Immediately after this creation Satan awakes from his 
stupor, calls a council, passes the gate of Hell kept by 
Sin and Death, and wades, swims, flies, falls, and flounders 
back by the thrones of Chaos and Old Night to find in 
the voids of space the newly created Earth. 



Chautauqua Library. .... Garnet Series. 



READINGS FROM MILTON. 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION 



BISHOP HENRY WHITE WARREN, 



COUNSELLOR C. L. S. C. 




vm 



BOSTON: 
CHAUTAUQUA PRESS, 

117 FRANKLIN STREET. 
1886. 



t^ll 



Copyright, 1886, 
By RAND, AVERY, & CO. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Introduction to Paradise Lost v 

Paradise Lost. — Book I i 

Book II 23 

Book III 57 

Book IV • 79 

Book V . 112 

Book VI 142 

Book VII 172 

Book VIII. 188 

Book IX 198 

Book X 235 

Books XL and XII 265 

On the Morning of Christ's Nativity 269 

At a Solemn Music 279 

Lycidas 2S0 

L'Allegro 287 

II Penseroso 293 

Sonnets 299 

To the Lord General Cromwell 300 

On the Late Massacre in Piedmont ... . 300 

On his Blindness 301 

On his Deceased Wife 301 

Life of John Milton 302 

iii 



INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST. 



"Considered with respect to design, ' Paradise 
Lost* may claim the first place among the produc- 
tions of the human heart." — Johnson. 

" It is certain that Milton is the most wonderfully 
sublime of any jpoet in any language ; Homer, Lucre- 
tius, and Tasso not excepted." — Hume. 

"Was there ever any thing so delightful as the 
music of 'Paradise Lost'? It is like that of a fine 
organ ; has the fullest and deepest tones of majesty, 
with all the softness and elegance of the Dorian flute." 
— Cowper. 

" That extraordinary production, which the general 
suffrage of critics has placed in the highest class of 
human productions. . . . His poetry reminds us of the 
miracles of Alpine scenery. Nooks and dells, beauti- 
ful as fairy-land, are embosomed in its most rugged 
and gigantic elevations. The roses and myrtles bloom 
unchilled on the edge of the avalanche." — Macaulay. 

" The style is always great. On the whole, it is the 
greatest in the whole range of English poetry ; so great 
that, when we have come to know and honor and love 
it, it so subdues the judgment that the judgment can 
with difficulty do its work with temperance. No 
style, when one has lived in it, is so spacious and so 
majestic a place to walk in." — Brooke. 

v 



VI INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST 

"Angelic was the ear of Milton." — De Quincey. 

Even the French critic Villemain, belonging to a 
nation whose tastes and habits differ widely as possible 
from the English, admits that Milton's picture of our 
first parents in Eden surpasses in graceful and touch- 
ing simplicity any thing to be found in the creation 
of any other poet, ancient or modern, and that the 
human imagination has produced nothing more grand 
and sublime than those same portions of " Paradise 
Lost." 

Not only the work, but, of necessity, the man is 
worthy of admiration. 

" It may be doubted whether the Creator ever cre- 
ated one altogether so great as Milton, — taking into 
one view at once his manly virtues, his superhuman 
genius ; his zeal for truth, for true piety, true freedom ; 
his eloquence in displaying it ; his contempt of per- 
sonal power, his glory and exultation in his country's." 
— Walter S. Landor. 

" In his character the noblest qualities of every party 
were combined in harmonious union." — Macaulay. 

These being the opinions of the most eminent crit- 
ics, we are eager to know what the production is. It 
is an epic poem, whose theme outreaches time, both 
before and after, into eternity, whose field is broader 
than earth, including all the solar system, the stars, 
heaven, unordered chaos, and infinite space ; in whose 
battles no mere Hector and Achilles are combatants, 
but Michael, Satan, myriads of angels, and the Son of 
God; with no beauteous Helen and fair Troy for 
prizes, but all the race of men, and the city that hath 
foundations of precious stones, golden pavement, and 



INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST. Vll 

in the perennial light of which stands the throne of 
the universe. 

But can any mortal make such adventurous flight ? 
Judgments of his success having been already given : 
the more pertinent question is, Can we follow ? 

For an understanding of the area and movement 
of events, see and study the frontispiece. 

The work contains one grand creation, — its central 
figure, — Satan. All previous human conceptions and 
personifications of Satan, and with one exception all 
later ones, have been pitiable failures. The lost arch- 
angels of Goethe, Byron, and Festus are easy gentle- 
men, neither to be rejected nor feared, helping men to 
sensual pleasures as a means of knowledge. None of 
these authors had a sublime moral stamina nor vehe- 
mence of perfect love to conceive of a destroyer of 
a race, and implacable hater of goodness and God. 
Only the pure heart and holy life of Mrs. Browning 
could do that. Milton succeeded vastly better, yet in 
strict accordance with his own nature. He was a man 
of vast mental power. He writes this poem after being 
a kind of secretary of state of the greatest nation on 
earth, in the time of its most gigantic struggles and 
greatest advance. In the great schemes of states- 
manship, he is perfectly at home. The unappre- 
hended rights of universal man rose out of darkness 
at his word, and were by him clothed in radiance in 
the sight of all the world. He conforms his Satan to 
himself, confers on him every power but omnipotence, 
every mental gift consistent with a lack of goodness. 
He is a ruler struggling for power. Hence, to regain 
his lost throne, not his lost purity, is his study. 



Vlll INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST. 

But this being, commanding our admiration by the 
spirit and power that durst defy the Omnipotent to 
arms, loses some of his original brightness, some of 
his exuberant strength, and hence some of our admi- 
ration, at every step in sin. So deadly is sin, he even 
loses the high regard of his followers ; and on his re- 
turn to hell from his successful expedition against man, 
he is greeted with a dismal universal hiss of derision. 
And in " Paradise Regained " he is no longer angelic 
in mien, gigantic in stature, vast in plan, kingly in exe- 
cution ; but as an old man he skulks at the heels of 
the famine-stricken Christ, scheming shallowly, ap- 
pealing to sensual appetite, and finally, at the Saviour's 
word, tumbles jDfY the height of the temple headlong. 

" So struck with dread and anguish fell the fiend. 
And to his crew, that sat consulting, brought 
Ruin, and desperation, and dismay, 
Who durst so proudly tempt the Son of God." 

Sin progressive is death. 

The characteristics of the poem are most obvious. 
First, Sublimity. The first book is unquestionably 
the highest flight of human genius. It is the only 
writing that approaches the first chapter of Genesis, 
where every word marks a step of God. The sub- 
lime appears in parts of Book II., especially in the 
speeches of the Infernal Council and that tremendous 
apparition seeking a new world explosively tossed 
about in dark chaos. In Book V., Heaven prepares 
for war, and at its close we have the sublime spectacle 
of one angel singly confronting the whole immensity 
of the rebel host. 



INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST IX 

I " So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found 

Among the faithless, faithful only he ; 

Among innumerable false, unmoved, 

Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, 

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal ; 

Nor number, nor example, with him wrought 

To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, 

Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, 

Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained 

Superior, nor of violence feared aught ; 

And with retorted scorn his back he turned 

On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. 

All night the dreadless angel unpursued, 

Through heaven's wide champaign held his way." 

Book VI. gives the battles of the angels, and also 
the outgoing of the omnipotent Messiah (lines 824- 
892), which is undoubtedly the grandest passage in 
the whole book. 

Second, The beautiful has its place in Book IV. It 
ravishes the reader with pictures of the large garden, its 
trees, streams, and central bower ; of our first parents 
and of the visitant angel Uriel. The coming and wel- 
come of "Raphael the sociable spirit "(V., 246-320) 
is not surpassed for beauty in human language. 

Third, Pathos. There are not only heights of sub- 
limity, and flowers of beauty, but there are great depths 
of tenderness. Milton's invocation to light (Book III., 
1-55) ; Satan's half inclination to repent (Book IV., 
32-113), when he comes out of black chaos into sun- 
light ; Adam's determination to die with Eve for the 
love he bears her (Book IX., 905-915), his reconcilia- 
tion with Eve after severe accusations (Book X., 909), 
and their departure from Eden (XII., 640-649), — 
are most tenderly pathetic. 



X INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST 

But none of these imaginary scenes approach the 
depth of pathos revealed by the real life of the author 
of them all. After a life of greatest eminence, amid 
scenes of world-wide importance, he is obliged to sit 
down in darkness and neglect. But no despair or 
repining comes from his noble spirit. He opens his 
inner vision on the grandeur of eternal worlds, and 
not only sees them himself, but opens wide the doors 
for all the world to see. 

Milton is a real rhetorical artist, a Michael Angelo 
of majesty, who creates with words, not marble ; and 
when he stands back and says to his creations, " Now 
speak," they obey, with the measures and volume with 
which the morning stars sang together, and all the sons 
of God shouted for joy. Burke says that the essential 
elements of the sublime are indefiniteness, obscurity, 
and a slight fearfulness in consequence of an inability to 
to grasp details. It is Mohammed who tells how many 
thousand years it takes a bird to fly from one ear to 
another of one of his angels. He thinks it is sublime. 
But it is one step therefrom. Even Dante puts the 
yardstick of the commonplace everywhere. Speaking 
of the huge spectre of Nimrod, he says, " From his 
waist upward three tall Germans would have tried in 
vain to reach his hair." As puerile as a boy's " thou- 
sand cats in the back-yard." Our English poet never 
descends to the mathematical by giving the measure 
of Satan. He dwells, and keeps his reader, in the 
realm of the creative imagination. He gives vague 
limits of vast bulk, within which the imagination can 
have "ample room and verge enough." The fiend 
lies stretched out in the visible darkness of a dungeon 



INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST. XI 

horrible, floating many a rood upon the burning lake. 
He is a Raphael of beauty, but it is not of the morn- 
ing dew, or of the evening splendor about to fade into 
darkness ; but it is of the liquid dew of youth that 
may be immortal, it is of a morning sky brightening 
into eternal day, it is of the beauty of holiness. 

Few can assuage their yearnings by a sight of 
Angelo's Moses or of Raphael's Sistine Madonna; 
but every one can bring into his home and heart pic- 
tures made by combining the light of the throne and 
the darkness of the pit into forms and faces of terrific 
hate and ineffable love. 

Ruskin bears witness that the melody and strength 
of his writings were caught from the hymns his 
mother early taught him. And the writer would here 
bear clearest testimony that an unschooled youth can 
read Milton among his earliest books, and never lose 
out of his being the sublime, rhythmical, rhetorical, 
and moral effect. It is the supreme test of genius, 
that it gives not merely pleasure, but power, to other 
souls. If men but touch the hem of the garments of 
men possessing it, " virtue goes out " of them. Mil- 
ton's mere words are full of that living power. 

Cool critics voiced the estimate of Milton in the 
opening of this Introduction ; a brother poet, using 
the majesty and rhythm of the sea, shall voice the 
close. 

" I pace the sounding sea-beach, and behold 
How the voluminous billows roll and run, 
Upheaving and subsiding, while the sun 

Shines through their sheeted emerald far unrolled ; 

And the ninth wave, slow gathering fold by fold 



XU INTRODUCTION TO PARADISE LOST 

All its loose flowing garments into one, 
Plunges upon the shore, and floods the dun 

Pale reach of sands, and changes them to gold. 

So in majestic cadence rise and fall 
The mighty undulations of thy song, 
O sightless bard, England's Maeonides ! 

And ever and anon, high over all 

Uplifted, a ninth wave, superb and strong, 
Floods all the soul with its melodious seas." 



Longfellow. 



PARADISE LOST. 



BOOK I. 

ARGUMENT. [READ AND STUDY.] 

The First Book proposes, first in brief, the whole subject, man's 
disobedience, and the loss thereupon of Paradise, wherein he was 
placed : then touches the prime cause of his fall, the serpent, or rather 
Satan in the serpent ; who, revolting from God, and drawing to his 
side many legions of angels, was, by the command of God, driven out 
of Heaven, with all his crew, into the great deep. Which action passed 
over, the poem hastens into the midst of things, presenting Satan 
with his angels now falling into Hell, described here, not in the centre 
(for Heaven and Earth may be supposed as yet not made, certainly 
not yet accursed), but in a place of utter darkness, fitliest called Chaos. 
Here Satan, with his angels, lying on the burning lake, thunderstruck 
and astonished, after a certain space recovers, as from confusion, calls 
up him who next in order and dignity lay by him ; they confer of their 
miserable fall ; Satan awakens all his legions, who lay till then in the 
same manner confounded. They rise, their numbers, array of battle ; 
their chief leaders named according to the idols known afterwards in 
Canaan and the countries adjoining. To these Satan directs his 
speech, comforts them with hope yet of regaining Heaven, but tells 
them lastly of a new world and a new kind of creature to be created 
according to an ancient prophecy, or report in Heaven ; for that angels 
were long before this visible creation, was the opinion of many ancient 
Fathers. To find out the truth of this prophecy, and what to deter- 
mine thereon, he refers to a full council. What his associates thence 
attempt. Pandemonium, the palace of Satan, rises, suddenly built 
out of the deep : the infernal peers there sit in council. 

Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit 
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste 
Brought death l into the world, and all our woe, 

1 Rom. v. 12. i 



2 1'ARADISE LOST. 

With loss of Eden, 1 till one greater Man 2 

Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, 

Sing, heavenly Muse, that on the secret top 

Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire 

That shepherd, 3 who first taught the chosen seed, 

In the beginning how the heavens and earth 

Rose out of chaos : or, if Sion hill 10 

Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed 

Fast by the oracle of God, I thence 

Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, 

That with no middle flight intends to soar 

Above the Aonian mount, 4 while it pursues 5 

Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. 

And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer 

Before all temples the upright heart and pure, 

Instruct me, for Thou know'st, Thou from the first 

Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread, 20 

Dove-like, satst brooding 6 on the vast abyss, 

And made it pregnant : what in me is dark 

Illumine ; what is low raise and support ; 

That to the height of this great argument 

I may assert eternal Providence, 

And justify the ways of God to men.? 

Say first, for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, 
Nor the deep tract of Hell ; 8 say first, what cause 
Moved our grand parents, in that happy state, 
Favored of Heaven so highly, to fall off 3° 

From their Creator, and transgress his will 
For one restraint, lords of the world besides? 
Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? 

1 = Pleasantness. 2 Christ, Rom. v. 19. 3 Moses, Isa. lxiii. 11. 

* Mount of the Muses. 5 = Recites. 6 Gen. i. 2. 7 The great 

purpose of the poem. 8 Ps. cxix. 8. 



BOOK /. 3 

The infernal Serpent ; he it was, whose guile, 

Stirred up with envy l and revenge, deceived 

The mother of mankind, what time his pride 

Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host 

Of rebel angels, by whose aid aspiring 

To set himself in glory above his peers, 

He trusted to have equalled the Most High, 4° 

If he opposed ; and, with ambitious aim 

Against the throne and monarchy of God, 

Raised impious war in Heaven, and battle proud, 

With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power 

Hurled headlong flaming from the ethereal sky, 2 

With hideous ruin and combustion, down 

To bottomless perdition, there to dwell 

In adamantine chains and penal fire, 

Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms. 

S Nine times the space that measures day and night 5° 

/To mortal men, he with his horrid crew 
Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, 
Confounded though immortal : but his doom 
Reserved him to more wrath ; for now the thought 
Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 
Torments him : round he throws his baleful eyes, 
That witnessed huge affliction and dismay 
Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate : 
At once, as far as angel's ken, he views 
The dismal situation waste and wild ; ~6o 

A dungeon horrible on all sides round 
As one great furnace flamed, yet from those flames 
No light, but rather darkness visible 
Served only to discover sights of woe, 

1 See Book IV., 502, 503. 2 Lines of tremendous energy. 



4 PARADISE LOST. 

Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 
And rest can never dwell, hope never comes 
That comes to all ; but torture without end 
Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed 
With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed : 
Such place eternal Justice had prepared 7° 

rFor those rebellious, here their prison ordained 
I In utter darkness, and their portion set 
(As far removed from God and light of Heaven, 
/ As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole. 1 
Oh, how unlike the place from whence they fell ! 
There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed 
With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, 
He soon discerns, and weltering by his side 
One next himself in power, and next in crime, 
Long after known in Palestine, and named 8o 

Beelzebub. 2 To whom the Arch-Enemy, 
And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words 
Breaking the horrid silence, thus began. 

" If thou beest he (but oh, how fallen ! 3 how changed 
From him, who in the happy realms of light 
Clothed with transcendent brightness didst outshine 
Myriads though bright !) if he whom mutual league, 
United thoughts and counsels, equal hope 
And hazard in the glorious enterprise, 
Joined with me once, now misery hath joined 9° 

In equal ruin — into what pit thou seest 
From what height fallen, so much the stronger proved 
He with his thunder : and till then who knew 
The force of those dire arms ? yet not for those, 

1 Pole of the starry universe, Book VIII., 114. 2 2 Kings, i. 2. 

3 Isa. xiv. 12. Abrupt transitions indicate agitation of mind. 



BOOK /. 5 

Nor what the potent victor in his rage 
Can else inflict, do I repent or change, 
Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, 
And high disdain from sense of injured merit, 
That with the mightiest raised me to contend, 
And to the fierce contention brought along IO ° 

Innumerable force of spirits armed, 
That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring, 
His utmost power with adverse power opposed 
In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, 
t And shook his throne. What though the field be lost ? 
All is not lost ; the unconquerable will, 
And study of revenge, immortal hate, 
And courage never to submit or yield, 
And what is else not to be overcome ; 
That glory never shall his wrath or might II0 

Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace 
With suppliant knee, and deify his power, 
Who from the terror of this arm so late 
Doubted his empire ; that were low indeed, 
That were an ignominy and shame beneath 
This downfall ; since by fate the strength of gods, 
And this empyreal l substance, cannot fail ; 
Since, through experience of this great event, 
In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, 
We may with more successful hope resolve I20 

To wage by force or guile eternal war, 
Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, 
Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy 
Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven." 2 
So spake the apostate angel, though in pain, 

1 Made of fire, Ps. civ. 4. 2 So speaks the father of lies. 



6 PARADISE LOST. 

Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair : 
And him thus answered soon his bold compeer. 

u O prince, O chief of many-throned powers, 
That led the embattled seraphim to war 
Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds x 3° 

Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King, 
And put to proof his high supremacy, 
Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate ; 
Too well I see and rue the dire event, 
That with sad overthrow and foul defeat 
Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host 
In horrible destruction laid thus low, 
As far as gods and heavenly essences 
Can perish : for the mind and spirit remains 
Invincible, and vigor soon returns, x 4<> 

Though all our glory extinct, and happy state 
Here swallowed up in endless misery. 
But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now 
Of force believe almighty, since no less 
Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) 
Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, 
Strongly to suffer and support our pains, 
That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, 
Or do him mightier service as his thralls 
By right of war, whate'er his business be, T 5° 

Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, 
Or do his errands in the gloomy deep ; 
What can it then avail, though yet we feel 
Strength undiminished, or eternal being 
To undergo eternal punishment? " 
Whereto with speedy words the Archfiend replied. 

" Fallen cherub ! to be weak is miserable, 



BOOK I, 7 

Doing or suffering : but of this be sure, 

To do aught good never will be our task, 

But ever to do ill our sole delight, • l6 ° 

As being the contrary to his high will 

Whom we resist. If then his providence 

Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, 

Our labor must be to pervert that end, 

And out of good still to find means of evil ; 

Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps 

Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb 

His inmost counsels from their destined aim. 

But see ! the angry Victor hath recalled 

His ministers of vengeance and pursuit I 7° 

Back to the gates of Heaven : the sulphurous hail 

Shot after us in storm, o'erblown, hath laid 

The fiery surge, that from the precipice 

Of Heaven received us falling ; and the thunder, 

Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, 

Perhaps has spent his shafts, and ceases now 

To bellow through the vast and boundless deep. 

Let us not slip the occasion, whether scorn 

Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. 1 

Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, l8 ° 

The seat of desolation, void of light, 

Save what the glimmering of these livid flames 

Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend 

From off the tossing of these fiery waves, 

There rest, if any rest can harbor there, 

And re-assembling our afflicted powers, 

Consult how we may henceforth most offend 

Our enemy ; our own loss how repair ; 

1 Punishment ceasing, new iniquity attempted. 



8 PARADISE LOST. 

How overcome this dire calamity ; 

What re-enforcement we may gain from hope ; J 9° 

If not, what resolution from despair.' ' 

Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, 
With head up-lift above the wave, and eyes 
That sparkling blazed ; his other parts besides 
Prone on the flood, extended long and large, 
Lay floating many a rood : in bulk as huge 
As whom the fables name of monstrous size, 
Titanian, or earth-born, that warred on Jove, 
Briareos, or Typhon, whom the den 
By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast 20 ° 

Leviathan, which God of all his works 
Created hugest that swim the ocean stream : 
Him,^iaply slumbering on the Norway foam, 
The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff 
Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, 
With fixed anchor in his scaly rind 
Moors by his side under the lea, while night 
Invests the sea, and wished morn delays : 
So stretched out huge in length the Archfiend lay 
Chained on the burning lake, nor ever thence 2I0 

Had risen or heaved his head, but that the will 
And high permission of all-ruling Heaven 
Left him at large to his own dark designs, 
That with reiterated crimes he might 
Heap on himself damnation, while he sought 
Evil to others ; and enraged might see 
How all his malice served but to bring forth 
Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shown 
On man by him seduced ; but on himself 
Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance poured. 220 



BOOK /. 9 

Forthwith upright he rears, from off the pool, 

His mighty stature ; on each hand the flames, 

Driven backward, slope their pointing spires, and rolled 

In billows, leave i' the midst a horrid vale. 

Then with expanded wings he steers his flight 

Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air 

That felt unusual weight, till on dry land 

He lights, if it were land that ever burned 

With solid, as the lake with liquid fire ; 

And such appeared in hue, as when the force 2 3° 

Of subterranean wind transports a hill 

Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side 

Of thundering ^Etna, whose combustible 

And fuel'd entrails thence conceiving fire, 

Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, 

And leave a singed bottom, all involved 

With stench and smoke : such resting found the sole 

Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate, 

Both glorying to have 'scaped the Stygian flood 

As gods, and by their own recovered strength, 2 4° 

Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. 

" Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," 
Said then the lost archangel, " this the seat 
That we must change for Heaven, this mournful gloom 
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he, 
Who now is Sovran, can dispose and bid 
What shall be right : farthest from him is best, 
Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme 
Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, 
Where joy forever dwells ! Hail horrors ! hail 2 5° 

Infernal world, and thou, profound est Hell, 
Receive thy new possessor ! one who brings 



IO PARADISE LOST. 

A mind not to be changed by place or time : 

The mind is its own place, and in itself 

Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. 

What matter where, if I be still the same, 

And what I should be, all but less than he 

Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least 

We shall be free ; the Almighty hath not built 

Here for his envy, will not drive us hence : 26 ° 

Here we may reign secure, and, in my choice, 

To reign is worth ambition though in Hell : 

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. 

Bat wherefore let we then our faithful friends, 

The associates and copartners of our loss, 

Lie thus astonished on the oblivious pool, 

And call them not to share with us their part 

In this unhappy mansion, or once more, 

With rallied arms, to try what may be yet 

Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" 2 7° 

*So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub 
Thus answered. " Leader of those armies bright, 
Which but the Omnipotent none could have foiled, 
If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge 
Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft 
In worse extremes, and on the perilous edge 
Of battle when it raged, in all assaults 
Their surest signal, they will soon resume 
New courage and revive, though now they lie 
Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, 28 ° 

As we erewhile, astounded and amazed : 
No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height.' - 

He scarce had ceased when the superior fiend 
Was moving toward the shore ; his ponderous shield, 



BOOK L II 

Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, 

Behind him cast ; the broad circumference 

Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb 

Through optic glass the Tuscan artist x views 

At evening from the top of Fesole, 

Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 2 9° 

Rivers, or mountains in her spotty globe. 

His spear, to equal which the tallest pine 

Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast 

Of some great ammiral, were but a wand, 

He walked with, to support uneasy steps 

Over the burning marl, not like those steps 

On Heaven's azure, and the torrid clime 

Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire : 

Nathless he so endured, till on the beach 

Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called 3 00 

His legions, angel forms, who lay entranced 

Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks 

In Vallombrosa, where the Etrurian shades 

High over-arched imbower ; or scattered sedge 

Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion 2 armed 

Hath vexed the Red Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew 

Busiris 3 and his Memphian chivalry, 

While with perfidious hatred they pursued 

The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld 

From the safe shore their floating carcasses 3 10 

And broken chariot wheels : so thick bestrewn, 

Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, 

Under amazement of their hideous change. 

He called so loud, that all the hollow deep 

Of Hell resounded. " Princes, potentates, 

1 Galileo. 2 A winter constellation. 3 Pharaoh. 



12 PARADISE LOST. 

Warriors, the flower of Heaven, once yours, now lost, 
If such astonishment as this can seize 
Eternal spirits ; or have ye chosen this place 
After the toil of battle to repose 

Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 3 20 

To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? 
Or in this abject posture have ye sworn 
To adore the Conqueror ? who now beholds 
Cherub and seraph rolling in the flood 
With scattered arms and ensigns ; till anon 
His swift pursuers from Heaven gates discern 
The advantage, and descending tread us down 
Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts 
Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf. 
Awake, arise, or be forever fallen ! " 33° 

They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung 
Upon the wing, as when men, wont to watch 
On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, 
Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. 
Nor did they not perceive the evil plight 
In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel ; 
Yet to their general's voice they soon obeyed, 
Innumerable. As when the potent rod 
Of Amram's son, 1 in Egypt's evil day, 
Waved round the coast, up called a pitchy cloud 34° 
Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, 
That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung 
Like night, and darkened all the land of Nile : 
So numberless were those bad angels seen 
Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell 
'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires ; 

1 Moses. 



BOOK I. 13 

Till, at a signal given, the uplifted spear 
Of their great sultan waving to direct 
Their course, in even balance down they light 
On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain ; 35° 

A multitude, like which the populous North 
Poured never from her frozen loins, to pass 
Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons 
Came like a deluge on the South, and spread 
Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. 
Forthwith from every squadron and each band 
The heads and leaders thither haste where stood 
Their great commander ; godlike shapes and forms 
Excelling human, princely dignities, 
And powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, 3 6 ° 
Though of their names in heavenly records now 
Be no memorial, blotted out and rased 
By their rebellion from the book of life. 
Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 
Got them new names ; till, wandering o'er the earth, 
Through God's high sufferance, for the trial of man, 
By falsities and lies the greater part 
Of mankind they corrupted to forsake 
God their Creator, and the invisible 
Glory of him that made them to transform 37° 

' Oft to the image of a brute, adorned 
With gay religions full of pomp and gold, 
And devils to adore for deities, 
Then were they known to men by various names, 
And various idols through the heathen world. 1 

All these and more came flocking ; but with looks 
Downcast and damp, yet such wherein appeared 

1 The list of all false gods ever worshipped by men is omitted. 



14 PARADISE LOST. 

Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their chief 

Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 

In loss itself : which on his countenance cast 

Like doubtful hue ; but he his wonted pride 

Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore 

Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised 

Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. 530 

Then straight commands that at the warlike sound 

Of trumpets loud and clarions be upreared 

His mighty standard ; that proud honor claimed 

Azazel as his right, a cherub tall, 

Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled 

The imperial ensign ; which, full high advanced, 

Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, 

With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, 

Seraphic arms and trophies ; all the while 

Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds : 540 

At which the universal host up sent 

A shout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond 

Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. 

All in a moment through the gloom were seen 

Ten thousand banners rise into the air 

With orient colors waving ; with them rose 

A forest huge of spears, and thronging helms 

Appeared, and serried shields in thick array 

Of depth immeasurable ; anon they move 

In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood 550 

Of flutes and soft recorders ; such as raised 

To height of noblest temper heroes old 

Arming to battle, and instead of rage 

Deliberate valor breathed, firm and unmoved 

With dread of death to flight or foul retreat ; 



BOOK L 1 5 

Nor wanting power to mitigate and 'suage 

With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase 

Anguish, and doubt, and fear, and sorrow, and pain, 

From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, 

Breathing united force, with fixed thought, 560 

Moved on in silence to soft pipes, that charmed 

Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil ; and now 

Advanced in view they stand, a horrid front 

Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise 

Of warriors old with ordered spear and shield, 

Awaiting what command their mighty chief 

Had to impose. He through the armed files 

Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse 

The whole battalion views, their order due, 

Their visages and stature as of gods ; 57 o 

Their number last he sums. And now his heart 

Distends with pride, and hardening in his strength 

Glories ; for never, since created man, 

Met such embodied force, as, named with these, 

Could merit more than that small infantry 

Warred on by cranes. . . . 

Thus far these beyond 
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed 
Their dread commander ; he, above the rest 
In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 59 o 

Stood like a tower ; his form had yet not lost 
All its original brightness, nor appeared 
Less than archangel ruined, and the excess 
Of glory obscured ; as when the sun new risen 
Looks through the horizontal misty air, 
Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon, 
In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds 



1 6 PARADISE LOST. 

On half the nations, and with fear of change 
Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone 
Above them all the archangel ; but his face 600 

Deep scars of thunder had entrenched, and care 
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows 
Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride 
Waiting revenge ; cruel his eyes, but cast 
Signs of remorse and passion to behold 
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather 
(Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned 
Forever now to have their lot in pain, 
Millions of spirits for his fault amerced 
Of Heaven, and from eternal splendors flung 6l ° 

For his revolt ; yet faithful how they stood, 
Their glory withered : as when Heaven's fire 
Hath scathed the forest oaks, or mountain pines, 
With singed top their stately growth, though bare, 
Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared 
To speak ; whereat their doubled ranks they bend 
From wing to wing, and half enclose him round 
With all his peers : attention held them mute. 
(Thrice he essayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, 
Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth : at last 
Words interwove with sighs found out their way. 

" O myriads of immortal spirits ! O powers 
Matchless but with the Almighty ; and that strife 
Was not inglorious, though the event was dire, 
As this place testifies, and this dire change, 
Hateful to utter : but what power of mind 
Foreseeing or presaging, from the depth 
Of knowledge past or present, could have feared, 
How such united force of gods, how such 



620 



BOOK L 17 

As stood like these, could ever know repulse ? 6 3° 

For who can yet believe, though after loss, 

That all these puissant legions, whose exile 

Hath emptied Heaven, 1 shall fail to re-ascend, 

Self-raised, and repossess their native seat ? 

For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, 

If counsels different, or dangers shunned 

By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns 

Monarch in Heaven, till then as one secure 

Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, 

Consent or custom, and his regal state 6 4° 

Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed, 

Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. 

Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, 

So as not either to provoke, or dread 

New war, provoked ; our better part remains 

To work in close design, by fraud or guile, 

What force effected not : that he no less 

At length from us may find, who overcomes 

By force, hath overcome but half his foe. 

Space may produce new worlds ; whereof so rife 6 5° 

There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long 

Intended to create, and therein plant 

A generation, whom his choice regard 

Should favor equal to the sons of Heaven : 

Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps 

Our first eruption : thither or elsewhere ; 

For this infernal pit shall never hold 

Celestial spirits in bondage, nor the abyss 

Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts 

Full counsel must mature ; peace is despaired, 66 ° 

1 This boast is sixty-six per cent lie. 



1 8 PARADISE LOST. 

For who can think submission ? War, then, war, 
Open or understood, must be resolved.' ' 

He spake ; and to confirm his words, outflew 
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs 
Of mighty cherubim ; the sudden blaze 
Far round illumined Hell ; highly they raged 
Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms 
Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, 
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. 

There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top 6 7° 

Belched fire and rolling smoke ; the rest entire 
Shone with a glossy scurf, undoubted sign 
That in his womb was hid metallic ore, 
The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed, 
A numerous brigade hastened : as when bands 
Of pioneers with spade and pickaxe armed 
Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, 
Or cast a rampart. Mammon s led them on, 
Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell 
From Heaven, for e'en in Heaven his looks and 
thoughts 68 ° 

Were always downward bent, admiring more 
The riches of Heaven's pavement, trodden gold, 
Than aught, divine or holy, else enjoyed 
In vision beatific : by him first 
Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 
Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands 
Rifled the bowels of their mother earth 
For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew 
Opened into the hill a spacious wound, 
And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire 6 9° 

1 God of money. Matt. vi. 24. 



BOOK /. 19 

That riches grow in Hell ; that soil may best 

Deserve the precious bane. And here let those 

Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell 

Of Babel and the works of Memphian kings, 

Learn how their greatest monuments of fame 

And strength and art are easily outdone 

By spirits reprobate, and in an hour 

What in an age they with incessant toil 

And hands innumerable l scarce perform. 

Nigh on the plain in many cells prepared, 7 00 

That underneath had veins of liquid fire 

Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude 

With wondrous art founded the massy ore, 

Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion dross : 

A third as soon had formed within the ground 

A various mould, and from the boiling cells 

By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook, 

As in an organ from one blast of wind 

To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes. 

Anon out of the earth a fabric huge 7 to 

Rose like an exhalation, with the sound 

Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet, 

Built like a temple, where pilasters round 

Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid 

With golden architrave ; nor did there want 

Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculptures graven ; 

The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon 

Nor great Alcairo such magnificence 

Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine 

Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat 720 

1 Three hundred and sixty thousand men worked twenty years on one 
pyramid. 



20 PARADISE LOST. 

Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove 
In wealth and luxury. The ascending pile 
Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors 
Opening their brazen folds discover wide 
Within, her ample spaces, o'er the smooth 
And level pavement : from the arched roof, 
Pendent by subtle magic, many a row 
Of starry lamps and blazing cressets fed 
With naphtha and asphaltus yielded light 
As from a sky. The hasty multitude 73° 

Admiring entered ; and the work some praise, 
And some the architect : his hand was known 
In Heaven by many a towered structure high, 
Where sceptred angels held their residence, 
And sat as princes, whom the supreme King 
Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, 
Each in his hierarchy, the orders bright. 
Nor was his name unheard or unadored 
In ancient Greece ; and in Ausonian land 
Men called him Mulciber ; and how he fell 74° 

From Heaven, they fabled, thrown by angry Jove 
Sheer o'er the crystal battlements ; from morn 
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, 
A summer's day ; and with the setting sun 
Dropped from the zenith like a falling star, 
On Lemnos the ^Egean isle ; thus they relate, 
Erring ; for he with this rebellious rout 
Fell long before ; nor aught availed him now 
To have built in Heaven high towers ; nor did he 'scape 
By all his engines, but was headlong sent 75° 

With his industrious crew to build in Hell. 
Meanwhile the winged heralds by command 



BOOK 7. 21 

Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony 

And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim 

A solemn council forthwith to be held 

At Pandemonium, the high capital 

Of Satan and his peers : their summons called 

From every band and squared regiment 

By place or choice the worthiest ; they anon 

With hundreds and with thousands trooping came 760 

Attended : all access was thronged ; the gates 

And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall 

(Though like a covered field, where champions bold 

Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair 

Defied the best of Panim chivalry 

To mortal combat, or career with lance), 

Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, 

Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees 

In spring time, when the sun with Taurus rides, 

Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 11° 

In clusters ; they among fresh dews and flowers 

Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, 

The suburb of their straw-built citadel, 

New rubbed with balm, expatiate and confer 

Their state arlairs. So thick the airy crowd 

Swarmed and were straitened ; till, the signal given, 

Behold a wonder ! They but now who seemed 

In bigness to surpass earth's giant sons, 

Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room 

Throng numberless, like that pygmean race 7 8 ° 

Beyond the Indian mount, or fairy elves, 

Whose midnight revels by a forest side 

Or fountain some belated peasant sees, 

Or dreams he sees, while overhead the moon 



22 PARADISE LOST. 

Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth 

Wheels her pale course ; they, on their mirth and dance 

Intent, with jocund music charm his ear ; 

At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. 

Thus incorporeal spirits to smallest forms 

Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, 79° 

Though without number still, amidst the hall 

Of that infernal court. But far within, 

And in their own dimensions, like themselves, 

The great seraphic lords and cherubim 

In close recess and secret conclave sat ; 

A thousand demi-gods on golden seats 

Frequent and full. After short silence then, 

And summons read, the great consult began. 



BOOK II. 23 



BOOK II. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be 
to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven : some advise it, others dis- 
suade ; a third proposal is preferred, mentioned before by Satan, to 
search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning 
another world, and another kind of creature, equal or not much infe- 
rior to themselves, about this time to be created. Their doubt who 
should be sent on this difficult search. Satan their chief undertakes 
alone the voyage, is honored and applauded. The council thus ended, 
the rest betake them several ways, and to several employments, as 
their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. 
He passes on his journey to Hell-gates : finds them shut, and who sat 
there to guard them ; by whom at length they are opened, and discover 
to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven ; with what difficulty 
he passes through, directed by Chaos, the power of that place, to the 
sight of this new world which he sought. 

High on a throne of royal state, which far 

Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, 

Or where the gorgeous East, with richest hand, 

Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, 

Satan exalted sat, by merit raised 

To that bad eminence : and from despair 

Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires 

Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue 

Vain war with Heaven ; and, by success untaught, 

His proud imaginations thus displayed : I0 

" Powers and dominions, deities of Heaven ! 
For since no deep within her gulf can hold 
Immortal vigor, though oppressed and fallen, 



24 PARADISE LOST, 

I give not Heaven for lost. From this descent 

Celestial virtues rising, will appear 

More glorious and more dread than from no fall, 

And trust themselves to fear no second fate. 

Me, though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven, 

Did first create your leader, next, free choice, 

With what besides, in counsel or in fight, 20 

Hath been achieved of merit ; yet this loss, 

Thus far, at least, recovered, hath much more 

Established in a safe, unenvied throne 

Yielded with full consent. The happier state 

In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw 

Envy from each inferior ; but who here 

Will envy whom the highest place exposes 

Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim 

Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share 

Of endless pain ? Where there is then no good 3° 

For which to strive, no strife can grow up there 

From faction ; for none sure will claim in Hell 

Precedence ; none whose portion is so small 

Of present pain, that with ambitious mind 

Will covet more. With this advantage, then, 

To union, and firm faith, and firm accord, 

More than can be in Heaven, we now return 

To claim our just inheritance of old, 

Surer to prosper than prosperity 

Could have assured us ; and by what best way, 4° 

Whether of open war or covert guile, 

We now debate : who can advise, may speak." 

He ceased ; and next him Moloch, sceptred king, 
Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest spirit 
That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair : 



BOOK II. 25 

His trust was with the Eternal to be deemed 

Equal in strength, and rather than be less 

Cared not to be at all ; with that care lost 

Went all his fear : of God, or Hell, or worse, 

He recked not ; and these words thereafter spake. 5° 

" My sentence is for open war : of wiles, 
More inexpert, I boast not : them let those 
Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. 
For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest, 
Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait 
The signal to ascend, sit lingering here, 
Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place 
Accept this dark, opprobrious den of shame, 
The prison of his tyranny who reigns 
By our delay ? No ! let us rather choose, 6o 

Armed with Hell flames and fury, all at once, 
O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way 
Turning our tortures into horrid arms 
Against the torturer ; when, to meet the noise 
Of his almighty engine, he shall hear 
Infernal thunder, and for lightning see 
Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 
Among his angels ; and his throne itself, 
Mixed with Tartarean sulphur, and strange fire, 
His own invented torments. But perhaps 7° 

The way seems difficult and steep to scale 
With upright wing against a higher foe. 
Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench 
Of that forgetful lake benumb not still, 
That in our proper motion we ascend 
Up to our native seat : descent and fall 
To us is adverse. Who but felt of late, 



26 PARADISE LOST. 

When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear 

Insulting, and pursued us through the deep, 

With what compulsion and laborious flight 80 

We sunk thus low ? The ascent is easy then ; 

The event is feared. Should we again provoke 

Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find 

To our destruction, if there be in hell 

Fear to be worse destroyed : what can be worse 

Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned 

In this abhorred deep to utter woe ; 

Where pain of unextinguishable fire 

Must exercise us without hope of end, 

The vassals of his anger, when the scourge 9° 

Inexorable, and the torturing hour, 

Calls us to penance ? More destroyed than thus, 

We should be quite abolished and expire. 

What fear we, then? what doubt we to incense 

His utmost ire ? which, to the height enraged, 

Will either quite consume us, and reduce 

To nothing this essential (happier far 

Than miserable to have eternal being) : 

Or, if our substance be indeed divine, 

And cannot cease to be, we are at worst I0 ° 

On this side nothing ; and by proof we feel 

Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, 

And with perpetual inroads to alarm, 

Though inaccessible, his fatal throne : 

Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." 

He ended, frowning, and his look denounced 
Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous 
To less than gods. On the other side uprose 
Belial, in act more graceful and humane ; 



BOOK II 27 

A fairer person lost not Heaven ; he seemed II0 

For dignity composed, and high exploit : 

But all was false and hollow ; though his tongue 

Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear 

The better reason, to perplex and dash 

Maturest counsels ; for his thoughts were low ; 

To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds 

Timorous and slothful ; yet he pleased the ear, 

And with persuasive accent thus began : 

" I should be much for open war, O peers, 
As not behind in hate, if what was urged I2 ° 

Main reason to persuade immediate war, 
Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast 
Ominous conjecture on the whole success ; 
When he, who most excels in fact of arms, 
In what he counsels, and in what excels, 
Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair 
And utter dissolution, as the scope 
Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. 
First, what revenge ? The towers of Heaven are filled 
With armed watch, that render all access J 3° 

Impregnable ; oft on the bordering deep 
Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing 
Scout far and wide into the realm of night, 
Scorning surprise. Or could we break our way 
By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise, 
With blackest insurrection, to confound 
Heaven's purest light ; yet our great enemy 
All incorruptible would on his throne 
Sit unpolluted : and the ethereal mould, 
Incapable of stain, would soon expel H° 

Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, 



28 PARADISE LOST. 

Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope 

Is flat despair : we must exasperate 

The Almighty Victor to spend all his rage, 

And that must end us ; that must be our cure, 

To be no more. Sad cure ! for who would lose, 

Though full of pain, this intellectual being, 

Those thoughts that wander through eternity, 

To perish rather, swallowed up and lost 

In the wide womb of uncreated night, 1 S° 

Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows, 

Let this be good, whether our angry foe 

Can give it, or will ever? How he can, 

Is doubtful : that he never will, is sure. 

Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, 

Belike through impotence, or unaware, 

To give his enemies their wish, and end 

Them in his anger, whom his anger saves 

To punish endless? Wherefore cease we, then? 

Say they who counsel war, We are decreed, l6 ° 

Reserved, and destined to eternal woe ; 

Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, 

What can we suffer worse ? Is this, then, worst, 

Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms ? 

What when we fled amain, pursued and struck 

With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought 

The deep to shelter us ? This Hell then seemed 

A refuge from those wounds : or when we lay 

Chained on the burning lake ? That sure was worse. 

What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, l 7° 

Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, 

And plunge us in the flames ? or, from above, 

Should intermitted vengeance arm again 



BOOK II 29 

His red right hand to plague us ? What if all 

Her stores were opened, and this firmament 

Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, 

Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall 

One day upon our heads ; while we, perhaps, 

Designing or exhorting glorious war, 

Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled lSo 

Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey 

Of racking whirlwinds : or forever sunk 

Under yon boiling ocean, wrapped in chains, 

There to converse with everlasting groans, 

Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, 

Ages of hopeless end ? This would be worse. 

War, therefore, open or concealed, alike 

My voice dissuades ; for what can force or guile 

With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye 

Views all things at one view ? He from Heaven's height 

All these our motions vain sees and derides ; 191 

Not more almighty to resist our might, 

Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. 

Shall we, then, live thus vile, the race of Heaven 

Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here 

Chains and these torments ? Better these than worse, 

By my advice ; since fate inevitable 

Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, 

The Victor's will. To suffer, as to do, 

Our strength is equal, nor the law unjust 200 

That so ordains : this was at first resolved, 

If we were wise, against so great a foe 

Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. 

I laugh, when those who at the spear are bold 

And venturous, if that fail them, shrink and fear 



30 PARADISE LOST. 

What yet they know must follow, to endure 

Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain, 

The sentence of their conqueror : this is now 

Our doom ; which if we can sustain and bear, 

Our supreme foe in time may much remit 2I ° 

His anger ; and perhaps thus far removed 

Not mind us not offending, satisfied 

With what is punished ; whence these raging fires 

Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. 

Our purer essence then will overcome 

Their noxious vapor ; or, inured, not feel ; 

Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed 

In temper and in nature, will receive 

Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain ; 

This horror will grow mild, this darkness light : 22 ° 

Besides what hope the never-ending flight 

Of future days may bring, what chance, what change, 

Worth waiting, since our present lot appears 

For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, 

If we procure not to ourselves more woe. ,, 

Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, 
Counselled ignoble ease, and peaceful sloth, 
Not peace : and after him thus Mammon spake. 

" Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven 
We war, if war be best, or to regain 2 3° 

Our own right lost : him to unthrone we then 
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield 
To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife : 
The former, vain to hope, argues as vain 
The latter : for what place can be for us 
Within Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme 
We overpower? Suppose he should relent, 



BOOK II. - 31 

And publish grace to all, on promise made 

Of new subjection ; with what eyes could we 

Stand in his presence humble, and receive 2 4° 

Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne 

With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing 

Forced hallelujahs ; while he lordly sits 

Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes 

Ambrosial odors and ambrosial flowers, 

Our servile offerings ? This must be our task 

In Heaven, this our delight ; how wearisome 

Eternity so spent in worship paid 

To whom we hate ! Let us not then pursue 

By force impossible, by leave obtained 2 5° 

Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state 

Of splendid vassalage ; but rather seek 

Our own good from ourselves, and from our own 

Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, 

Free, and to none accountable, preferring . 

Hard liberty before the easy yoke 

Of servile ^ omp. Our greatness will appear 

Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, 

Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, 

We can create ; and in what place soe'er 26 ° 

Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain, 

Through labor and endurance. This deep world 

Of darkness do we dread ? How oft amidst 

Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire 

Choose to reside, his glory unobscured, 

And with the majesty of darkness round 

Covers his throne ; from whence deep thunders roar, 

Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell ? 

As he our darkness, cannot we his light 



32 PARADISE LOST. 

Imitate when we please ? This desert soil 2 7° 

Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold ; 

Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise 

Magnificence ; and what can Heaven show more ? 

Our torments also may in length of time 

Become our elements ; these piercing fires 

As soft as now severe, our temper changed 

Into their temper ; which must needs remove 

The sensible of pain. All things invite 

To peaceful counsels, and the settled state 

Of order, how in safety best we may 28 ° 

Compose our present evils, with regard 

Of what we are, and where, dismissing quite 

All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise." 

He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled 
The assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 
The sound of blustering winds, which all night long 
Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull 
Seafaring men o'erwatched, whose bark by chance 
Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay 
After the tempest : such applause was heard 2 9° 

As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, 
Advising peace ; for such another field 
They dreaded worse than Hell : so much the fear 
Of thunder and the sword of Michael 
Wrought still within them ; and no less desire 
To found this nether empire, which might rise, 
By policy, and long process of time, 
In emulation opposite to Heaven. 
Which when Beelzebub perceived, than whom, 
Satan except, none higher sat, with grave 3 00 

Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed 



BOOK IT. 33 

A pillar of state ; deep on his front engraven 

Deliberation sat, and public care ; 

And princely counsel in his face yet shone, 

Majestic, though in ruin; sage he stood, 

With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear 

The weight of mightiest monarchies ; his look 

Drew audience and attention still as night 

Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake : 

" Thrones, and imperial powers, offspring of Heaven, 
Ethereal virtues ! or these titles now 3 n 

Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called 
Princes of Hell ? for so the popular vote 
Inclines, here to continue, and build up here 
A growing empire ; doubtless, while we dream, 
And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed 
This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat 
Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt 
From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league 
Banded against his throne, but to remain 3 2 ° 

In strictest bondage, though thus far removed 
Under the inevitable curb, reserved 
His captive multitude ; for he, be sure, 
In height or depth, still first and last will reign 
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part 
By our revolt ; but over Hell extend 
His empire, and with iron sceptre rule 
Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. 
What sit we then projecting peace and war? 
War hath determined us, and foiled with loss 33° 

Irreparable ; terms of peace yet none 
Vouchsafed or sought ; for what peace will be given 
To us enslaved, but custody severe, 



34 PARADISE LOST. 

And stripes, and arbitrary punishment, 

Inflicted ? and what peace can we return, 

But to our power hostility and hate, 

Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow, 

Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least 

May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice 

In doing what we most in suffering feel ? 34° 

Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need 

With dangerous expedition to invade 

Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault, or siege, 

Or ambush from the deep. What if we find 

Some easier enterprise ? There is a place 

(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven 

Err not) , another world, the happy seat 

Of some new race, called man, about this time 

To be created like to us, though less 

In power and excellence, but favored more 35° 

Of him who rules above ; so was his will 

Pronounced among the gods, and by an oath, 

That shook Heaven's whole circumference, confirmed. 

Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn 

What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 

Or substance, how endued, and what their power, 

And where their weakness, how attempted best, 

By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, 

And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure 

In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, 3 6 ° 

The utmost border of his kingdom, left 

To their defence who hold it : here, perhaps, 

Some advantageous act may be achieved 

By sudden onset, either with Hell-fire 

To waste his whole creation, or possess 



BOOK //. 35 

All as our own, and drive, as we are driven, 

The puny habitants ; or, if not drive, 

Seduce them to our party, that their God 

May prove their foe, and with repenting hand 

Abolish his own works. This would surpass Zl° 

Common revenge, and interrupt his joy 

In our confusion, and our joy upraise 

In his disturbance ; when his darling sons, 

Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse 

Their frail original, and faded bliss, 

Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth 

Attempting, or to sit in darkness here 

Hatching vain empires.' ' Thus Beelzebub 

Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devised 

By Satan, and in part proposed ; for whence, 3 8 ° 

But from the author of all ill, could spring 

So deep a malice, to confound the race 

Of mankind in one root, and earth with Hell 

To mingle and involve, done all to spite 

The great Creator? But their spite still serves 

His glory to augment. The bold design 

Pleased highly those infernal states, and joy 

Sparkled in all their eyes ; with full assent 

They vote : whereat his speech he thus renews. 

" Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, 39<> 
Synod of gods ! and, like to what ye are, 
Great things resolved, which, from the lowest deep, 
Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, 
Nearer our ancient seat ; perhaps in view 
Of those bright confines, whence with neighboring arms 
And opportune excursion we may chance 
Re-enter Heaven ; or else in some mild zone 



36 PARADISE LOST. 

Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, 
Secure, and at the brightening orient beam 
Purge off this gloom ; the soft delicious air, 4°o 

To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, 
Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we send 
In search of this new world ; whom shall we find 
Sufficient ? Who shall tempt with wandering feet 
The dark, unbottomed, infinite abyss, 
And through the palpable obscure find out 
His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, 
Upborne, with indefatigable wings, 
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 
The happy isle ? What strength, what art can then 4*° 
Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe 
Through the strict senteries and stations thick 
Of angels watching round ? Here he had need 
All circumspection, and we now no less 
Choice in our suffrage ; for on whom we send, 
The weight of all and our last hope relies. " 
This said, he sat ; and expectation held 
His look suspense, awaiting who appeared 
To second, or oppose, or undertake 
The perilous attempt : but all sat mute, 420 

Pondering the danger with deep thoughts ; and each 
In others' countenance read his own dismay, 
Astonished : none among the choice and prime 
Of those Heaven-warring champions could be found 
So hardy as to proffer or accept 
Alone the dreadful voyage ; till at last 
Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised 
Above his fellows, with monarchal pride, 
Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake. 



BOOK II 37 

" O progeny of Heaven ! empyreal thrones ! 43° 
With reason hath deep silence and demur 
Seized us, though undismayed : long is the way 
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light ; 
Our prison strong ; this huge convex of fire, 
Outrageous to devour, immures us round 
Ninefold ; and gates of burning adamant, 
Barred over us, prohibit all egress. 
These passed, if any pass, the void profound 
Of unessential night receives him next 
Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being 44° 

Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. 
If thence he 'scape into whatever world, 
Or unknown region, what remains him less 
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape ? 
But I should ill become this throne, O peers ! 
And this imperial sovereignty, adorned 
With splendor, armed with power, if aught proposed 
And judged of public moment, in the shape 
Of difficulty or danger, could deter 
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume 45° 

These royalties, and not refuse to reign, 
Refusing to accept as great a share 
Of hazard as of honor, due alike 
To him who reigns, and so much to him due 
Of hazard more, as he above the rest 
High honored sits ? Go, therefore, mighty powers, 
Terror of Heaven, though fallen ; intend at home, 
While here shall be our home, what best may ease 
The present misery, and render Hell 
More tolerable ; if there be cure or charm 460 

To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain 



38 PARADISE LOST. 

Of this ill mansion : intermit no watch 

Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad 

Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek 

Deliverance for us all. This enterprise 

None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose 

The monarch, and prevented all reply, 

Prudent, lest from his resolution raised 

Others among the chief might offer now 

(Certain to be refused) what erst they feared ; 47° 

And so refused might in opinion stand 

His rivals, winning cheap the high repute 

Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they 

Dreaded not more the adventure than his voice 

Forbidding ; and at once with him they rose ; 

Their rising all at once was as the sound 

Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend 

With awful reverence prone ; and as a god 

Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. 

Nor failed they to express how much they praised, 480 

That for the general safety he despised 

His own : for neither do the spirits damned 

Lose all their virtue ; lest bad men should boast 

Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, 

Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal. 

Thus they their doubtful consultations dark 

Ended, rejoicing in their matchless chief: 

As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds 

Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread 

Heaven's cheerful face, the lowering element 49° 

Scowls o'er the darkened landskip snow or shower ; 

If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet 

Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, 



BOOK IL 39 

The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds 

Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. 

O shame to men ! devil with devil damned 

Firm concord holds, men only disagree 

Of creatures rational, though under hope 

Of heavenly grace ; and, God proclaiming peace, 

Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife 5 00 

Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, 

Wasting the earth, each other to destroy : 

As if (which might induce us to accord) 

Man had not hellish foes enow besides, 

That day and night for his destruction wait. 

The Stygian council thus dissolved, and forth 
In order came the grand infernal peers : 
Midst came their mighty paramount, and seemed 
Alone the antagonist of Heaven, nor less 
Than Hell's dread emperor, with pomp supreme, 5 10 
And god-like imitated state ; him round 
A globe of fiery seraphim enclosed 
With bright emblazonry and horrent arms. 
Then of their session ended they bid cry 
W T ith trumpet's regal sound the great result : • 
Toward the four winds four speedy cherubim 
Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, 
By herald's voice explained ; the hollow abyss 
Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell 
With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. 5 20 
Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised 
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers 
Disband, and wandering, each his several way 
Pursues, as inclination or sad choice 
Leads him, perplexed, where he may likeliest find 



40 PARADISE LOST. 

Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain 

The irksome hours, till his great chief return. 

Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, 

Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, 

As at the Olympian games or Pythian fields ; 53° 

Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal 

With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form. 

As when, to warn proud cities, war appears 

Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush 

To battle in the clouds, before each van 

Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, 

Till thickest legions close ; with feats of arms 

From either end of Heaven the welkin burns. 

Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell, 

Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air 54° 

In whirlwind ; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. 

As when Alcides, from (Echalia crowned 

With conquest, felt the envenomed robe, and tore 

Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, 

And Lichas from the top of GEta threw 

Into the Euboic sea. Others, more mild, 

Retreated in a silent valley, sing 

With notes angelical to many a harp 

Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall 

By doom of battle ; and complain that fate 55° 

Free virtue should enthral to force or chance. 

Their song was partial, but the harmony 

(What could it less when spirits immortal sing?) 

Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment 

The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet 

(For eloquence the soul, song charms the sense) 

Others apart sat on a hill retired, 



BOOK II. 41 

In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high 

Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate, 

Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, 5 6 ° 

And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. 

Of good and evil much they argued then, 

Of happiness and final misery, 

Passion and apathy, and glory and shame, 

Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy : 

Yet with a pleasing sorcery could charm 

Pain for a while, or anguish, and excite 

Fallacious hope, or arm the obdured breast 

With stubborn patience as with triple steel. 

Another part, in squadrons and gross bands, 57° 

On bold adventure to discover wide 

That dismal world, if any clime perhaps 

Might yield them easier habitation, bend 

Four ways their flying march, along the banks 

Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge 

Into the burning lake their baleful streams : 

Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate ; 

Sad Acheron, of sorrow, black and deep ; 

Cocytus, named of lamentation loud 

Heard on the rueful steam ; fierce Phlegethon, 5 8 ° 

Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. 

Far off from these a slow and silent stream, 

Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls 

Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks, 

Forthwith his former state and being forgets, 

Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. 

Beyond this flood a frozen continent 

Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms 

Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land 



42 PARADISE LOST. 

Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems 59° 

Of ancient pile ; or else deep snow and ice, 

A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog 

Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, 

Where armies whole have sunk : the parching air 

Burns frore, and cold performs the effect of fire. 

Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled, 

At certain revolutions all the damned 

Are brought ; and feel by turns the bitter change 

Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce ; 

From beds of raging fire to starve in ice 6o ° 

Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine 

Immovable, infixed, and frozen round, 

Periods of time ; thence hurried back to fire. 

They ferry over this Lethean sound, 

Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, 

And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach 

The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose 

In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, 

All in one moment, and so near the brink ; 

But fate withstands, and to oppose the attempt 6l ° 

Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards 

The ford, and of itself the water flies 

All taste of living wight, as once it fled 

The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on 

In confused march forlorn, the adventurous bands, 

With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast, 

Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found 

No rest ; through many a dark and dreary vale 

They passed, and many a region dolorous, 

O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp, 6 -° 

Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death, 



BOOK IL 43 

A universe of death, which God by curse 

Created evil, for evil only good, 

Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds, 

Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, 

Abominable, unutterable, and worse 

Than fables yet have feigned, or fear conceived, 

Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimaeras dire. 

Meanwhile the adversary of God and man, 
Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, 6 3° 
Puts on swift wings, and towards the gates of Hell 
Explores his solitary flight : sometimes 
He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left ; 
Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars 
Up to the fiery concave towering high. 
As when far off at sea a fleet descried 
Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds 
Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles 
Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring 
Their spicy drugs ; they on the trading flood, 6 4° 

Through the wide Ethiopian to the cape, 
Ply stemming nightly toward the pole. So seemed 
Far off the flying fiend : at last appear 
Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, 
And thrice threefold the gates ; three folds were brass, 
Three iron, three of adamantine rock, 
Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, 
Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat 
On either side a formidable shape ; 
/ The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, 6 5° 

But ended foul in many a scaly fold 
Voluminous and vast, a serpent armed 
With mortal sting : about her middle round 



44 PARADISE LOST. 

A cry of hell-hounds never-ceasing barked 

With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung 

A hideous peal ; yet, when they list, would creep, 

If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, 

And kennel there ; yet there still barked and howled 

Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these 

Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts 66 ° 

Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore : 

Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called 

In secret, riding through the air she comes, 

Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance 

With Lapland witches, while the laboring moon 

Eclipses at their charms. The other shape, 

If shape it might be called that shape had none 

Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb, 

Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, 

For each seemed either ; black it stood as night, 6 7° 

Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, 

And shook a dreadful dart ; what seemed his head 

The likeness of a kingly crown had on. 

Satan was now at hand ; and from his seat 

The monster moving onward came as fast 

With horrid strides ; Hell trembled as he strode. 

The undaunted fiend what this might be admired, 

Admired, not feared ; God and his Son except, 

Created thing nought valued he, nor shunned ; 

And with disdainful look thus first began : 68 ° 

" Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, 
That darest, though grim and terrible, advance 
Thy miscreated front athwart my way 
To yonder gates ? Through them I mean to pass, 
That be assured, without leave asked of thee : 



BOOK II 45 

Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, 
Hell-born, not to contend with spirits of Heaven." 

To whom the goblin full of wrath replied : 
" Art thou that traitor- angel, art thou he, 
Who first broke peace in Heaven, and faith till then 6 9° 
Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms 
Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons, 
Conjured against the Highest ; for which both thou 
And they, outcast from God, are here condemned 
To waste eternal days in woe and pain ? 
And reckon'st thou thyself with spirits of Heaven 
Hell-doomed, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, 
Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, 
Thy king and lord ? Back to thy punishment, 
False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, 7 00 

Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue 
Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart 
Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." 

So spake the grisly terror, and in shape, 
So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold 
f More dreadful and deform : on the other side, 
Incensed with indignation, Satan stood 
Unterrified, and like a comet burned, 
That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge 
In the arctic sky^ and from his horrid hair 7*° 

Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head 
Levelled his deadly aim ; their fatal hands 
No second stroke intend • and such a frown 
Each cast at the other, as when two black clouds, 
With Heaven's artillery fraught, come rattling on 
Over the Caspian, then stand front to front, 
Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow 



46 PARADISE LOST. 

To join their dark encounter in mid-air : 

So frowned the mighty combatants, that Hell 

Grew darker at their frown ; so matched they stood ; 720 

For never but once more was either like 

To meet so great a foe : and now great deeds 

Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, 

Had not the snaky sorceress that sat 

Fast by Hell-gate, and kept the fatal key, 

Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between. 

" O father, what intends thy hand," she cried, 
" Against thy only son ? What fury, O son, 
Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart 
Against thy father's head ? and know'st for whom ? 73° 
For him who sits above and laughs the while 
At thee, ordained his drudge, to execute 
Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids ; 
His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both." 

She spake, and at her words the hellish pest 
Forbore : then these to her Satan returned : 

" So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange 
Thou interposest, that my sudden hand 
Prevented spares to tell thee yet by deeds 
What it intends, till first I know of thee, 74° 

What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and why, 
In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st 
Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son ; 
I know thee not, nor ever saw till now 
Sight more detestable than him and thee." 

To whom thus the portress of Hell-gate replied : 
" Hast thou forgot me, then, and do I seem 
Now in thine eye so foul ? once deemed so fair 
In Heaven, when at the assembly, and in sight 



BOOK //. 47 

Of all the seraphim with thee combined 75° 

In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, 

All on a sudden miserable pain 

Surprised thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swum 

In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast 

Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, 

Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, 

Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, 

Out of thy head I sprung : amazement seized 

All the host of Heaven ; back they recoiled, afraid 

At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign 760 

Portentous held me ; but, familiar grown, 

I pleased, and with attractive graces won 

The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft 

Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing 

Becamest enamored, and such joy thou took'st 

With me in secret, that my womb conceived 

A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, 

And fields were fought in Heaven ; wherein remained 

(For what could else ?) to our almighty Foe 

Clear victory, to our part loss and rout 11° 

Through all the empyrean : down they fell, 

Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down 

Into this deep ; and in the general fall 

I also ; at which time this powerful key 

Into my hand was given, with charge to keep 

These gates forever shut, which none can pass 

Without my opening. Pensive here I sat 

Alone ; but long I sat not, till my womb, 

Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, 

Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. 780 

At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, 



48 PARADISE LOST. 

Thine own begotten, breaking violent way, 

Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain 

Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew 

Transformed : but he my inbred enemy 

Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, 

Made to destroy ; I fled, and cried out, ' Death ! ' 

Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed 

From all her caves, and back resounded, ' Death ! ■ 

I fled, but he pursued (though more, it seems, 79° 

Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far, 

Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, 

And in embraces forcible and foul 

Engendering with me, of that rape begot 

These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry 

Surround me, as thou saw'st, hourly conceived 

And hourly born, with sorrow infinite 

To me ; for, when they list, into the womb 

That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw 

My bowels, their repast ; then bursting forth 8o ° 

Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round, 

That rest or intermission none I find. 

Before mine eyes in opposition sits 

Grim Death, my son and foe, who sets them on, 

And me his parent would full soon devour 

For want of other prey, but that he knows 

His end with mine involved ; and knows that I 

Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, 

Whenever that shall be ; so fate pronounced. 

But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun 8l ° 

His deadly arrow ; neither vainly hope 

To be invulnerable in those bright arms, 

Though tempered heavenly ; for that mortal dint, 



BOOK IL 49 

Save he who reigns above, none can resist." 
She finished, and the subtle fiend his lore 
Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth : 
" Dear daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy sire, 
And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge 
Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys 
Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change 
Befallen us unforeseen, un thought of; know 821 

I come no enemy, but to set free 
From out this dark and dismal house of pain 
Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host 
Of spirits, that, in our just pretences armed, 
Fell with us from on high : from them I go 
This uncouth errand sole ; and, one for all, 
Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread 
The unfounded deep, and through the void immense 
To search with wandering quest a place foretold 8 3° 
Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now 
Created, vast and round ; a place of bliss 
In the purlieus of Heaven, and therein placed 
A race of upstart creatures, to supply 
Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, 
Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, 
Might hap to move new broils : be this or aught 
Than this more secret now designed, 1 haste 
To know, and, this once known, shall soon return, 
And bring ye to the place where thou and Death 8 4° 
Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen 
Wing silently the buxom air, embalmed 
With odors ; there ye shall be fed and filled 
Immeasurably ; all things shall be your prey." 

He ceased, for both seemed highly pleased, and Death 



50 PARADISE LOST. 

Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear 
His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw 
Destined to that good hour : no less rejoiced 
His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire : 

" The key of this infernal pit by due, 8 5° 

And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King, 
I keep, by him forbidden to unlock 
These adamantine gates ; against all force 
Death ready stands to interpose his dart, 
Fearless to be o'ermatched by living might. 
But what owe I to his commands above 
Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down 
Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, 
To sit in hateful office here confined, 
Inhabitant of Heaven, and heavenly-born, 86 ° 

Here in perpetual agony and pain, 
With terrors and with clamors compassed round 
Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? 
Thou art my father, thou my author, thou 
My being gavest me \ whom should I obey 
But thee ? whom follow ? Thou wilt bring me soon 
To that new world of light and bliss, among 
The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign 
At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems 
Thy daughter and thy darling, without end." 8 7° 

Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, 
Sad instrument of all our woe, she took ; 
And towards the gate rolling her bestial train, 
Forthwith the huge portcullis high up- drew, 
Which, but herself, not all the Stygian powers 
Could once have moved ; then in the key-hole turns 
The intricate wards, and every bolt and bar 



BOOK IT. 5 I 

Of massy iron or solid rock with ease 

Unfastens : on a sudden open fly, 

With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, 88 ° 

The infernal doors, and on their hinges grate 

Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook 

Of Erebus. She opened, but to shut 

Excelled her power : the gates wide open stood, 

That with extended wings a bannered host, 

Under spread ensigns marching, might pass through, 

With horse and chariots ranked in loose array • 

So wide they stood, and like a furnace mouth 

Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. 

Before their eyes in sudden view appear 8 9° 

The secrets of the hoary deep, a dark 

Illimitable ocean, without bound, 

Without dimension, where length, breadth, and height, 

And time, and place, are lost ; where eldest Night 

And Chaos, ancestors of nature, hold 

Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise 

Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. 

For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce, 

Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring 

Their embryon atoms : they around the flag 9°° 

Of each his faction, in their several clans, 

Light armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow, 

Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands 

Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil, 

Levied to side with warring winds, and poise 

Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere, 

He rules a moment ; Chaos umpire sits, 

And by decision more embroils the fray 

By which he reigns : next him, high arbiter, 



52 PARADISE LOST. 

Chance governs all. Into this wild abyss, 9 10 

The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave, 

Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, 

But all these in their pregnant causes mixed 

Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, 

Unless the almighty Maker them ordain 

His dark materials to create more worlds ; 

Into this wild abyss the wary fiend 

Stood on the brink of Hell, and looked awhile, 

Pondering his voyage ; for no narrow frith 

He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed 9 2 ° 

With noises loud and ruinous (to compare 

Great things with small) than when Bellona storms 

With all her battering engines bent to raze 

Some capital city ; or less than if this frame 

Of Heaven were falling, and these elements 

In mutiny had from her axle torn 

The steadfast earth. At last his sail-broad vans 

He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke 

Uplifted spurns the ground ; thence many a league, 

As in a cloudy chair ascending, rides 93° 

Audacious ; but, that seat soon failing, meets 

A vast vacuity : all unawares, 

Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb down he drops 

Ten thousand fathom deep ; and to this hour 

Down had been falling, had not by ill chance 

The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud, 

Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him 

As many miles aloft : that fury stayed, 

Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea, 

Nor good dry land, nigh foundered, on he fares, 94° 

Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, 



BOOK II. S3 

Half flying ; behoves him now both oar and sail. 

As when a gryphon through the wilderness 

With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, 

Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth 

Had from his wakeful custody purloined 

The guarded gold : so eagerly the fiend 

O'er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, 

With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, 

And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies : 95° 

At length a universal hubbub wild 

Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused, 

Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear 

With loudest vehemence : thither he plies, 

Undaunted, to meet there whatever power 

Or spirit of the nethermost abyss 

Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask 

Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies 

Bordering on light ; when straight behold the throne 

Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread 9 6 ° 

Wide on the wasteful deep ; with him enthroned 

Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of ^things, 

The consort of his reign ; and by them stood 

Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name 

Of Demogorgon ; Rumor next, and Chance, 

And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled, 

And Discord, with a thousand various mouths. 

To whom Satan, turning boldly, thus : " Ye powers 
And spirits of this nethermost abyss, 
Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy, 97° 

With purpose to explore or to disturb 
The secrets of your realm ; but, by constraint 
Wandering this darksome desert, as my way 



54 PARADISE LOST, 

Lies through your spacious empire up to light, 

Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek 

What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds 

Confine with Heaven : or, if some other place, 

From your dominion won, the ethereal King 

Possesses lately, thither to arrive 

I travel this profound ; direct my course ; 9 So 

Directed, no mean recompense it brings 

To your behoof, if I that region lost, 

All usurpation thence expelled, reduce 

To her original darkness and your sway 

(Which is my present journey), and once more 

Erect the standard there of ancient Night ; 

Yours be the advantage all, mine the revenge." 

Thus Satan ; and him thus the Anarch old, 
With faltering speech and visage incomposed, 
Answered : " I know thee, stranger, who thou art ; 99° 
That mighty leading angel, who of late 
Made head against Heaven's King, though overthrown. 
I saw and heard, for such a numerous host 
Fled not in silence through the frighted deep, 
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, 
Confusion worse confounded ; and Heaven-gates 
Poured out by millions her victorious bands, 
Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here 
Keep residence ; if all I can will serve 
That little which is left so to defend, IOO ° 

Encroached on still through your intestine broils, 
Weakening the sceptre of old Night : first Hell, 
Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath ; 
Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world, 
Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain 



BOOK IL 55 

To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell. 
If that way be your walk, you have not far ; 
So much the nearer danger ; go, and speed ; 
Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain." 

He ceased ; and Satan stayed not to reply, lol ° 

But, glad that now his sea should find a shore, 
With fresh alacrity and force renewed 
Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire, 
Into the wild expanse, and through the shock 
Of fighting elements, on all sides round 
Environed, wins his way, harder beset 
And more endangered, than when Argo passed 
Through Bosphorus, betwixt the justling rocks ; 
Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned 
Charybdis, and by the other whirlpool steered. I02 ° 
So he with difficulty and labor hard 
Moved on, with difficulty and labor he ; 
But he once passed, soon after, when man fell, 
Strange alteration ! Sin and Death amain 
- Following his track (such was the will of Heaven) 
Paved after him a broad and beaten way 
Over the dark abyss, whose boiling gulf 
Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length, 
From Hell continued, reaching the utmost orb 
Of this frail world, by which the spirits perverse io 3° 
With easy intercourse pass to and fro 
To tempt or punish mortals, except whom 
God and good angels guard by special grace. 
But now at last the sacred influence 
Of light appears, and from the. walls of Heaven 
Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night 
A glimmering dawn ; here Nature first begins 



56 PARADISE LOST. 

Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire, 

As from her outmost works, a broken foe, 

With tumult less, and with less hostile din, I0 4<> 

That Satan with less toil, and now with ease, 

Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light, 

And like a weather-beaten vessel holds 

Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn ; 

Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, 

Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold 

Far off the empyreal Heaven, extending wide 

In circuit, undetermined square or round, 

With opal towers and battlements adorned 

Of living sapphire, once his native seat ; I0 5° 

And fast by, hanging in a golden chain, 

This pendent world, in bigness as a star 

Of smallest magnitude, close by the moon. 

Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, 

Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. 



BOOK HI. 57 



BOOK III. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

God, sitting on his throne, sees Satan flying towards this world, 
then newly created : shows him to the Son, who sat at his right 
hand ; foretells the success of Satan in perverting mankind ; clears 
his own justice and wisdom from all imputation, having created man 
free, and able enough to have withstood his tempter ; yet declares his 
purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, 
as did Satan, but by him seduced. The Son of God renders praises to 
his Father for the manifestation of his gracious purpose towards man ; 
but God again declares that grace cannot be extended towards man 
without the satisfaction of divine justice : man hath offended the 
majesty of God by aspiring to godhead, and therefore, with all his 
progeny, devoted to death, must die, unless some one can be found 
sufficient to answer for his offence, and undergo his punishment. The 
Son of God freely offers himself a ransom for man; the Father 
accepts him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above 
all names in Heaven and Earth ; commands all the angels to adore 
him ; they obey, and by hymning to their harps in full choir, celebrate 
the Father and the Son. Meanwhile, Satan alights upon the bare con- 
vex of this world's outermost orb ; where wandering he first finds a 
place, since called the Limbo of Vanity ; what persons and things fly 
up thither ; thence comes to the gate of Heaven, described ascending 
by stairs, and the waters above the firmament that flow about it ; 
his passage thence to the orb of the sun ; he finds there Uriel, the 
regent of that orb, but first changes himself into the shape of a 
meaner angel ; and pretending a zealous desire to behold the new 
creation, and man whom God had placed here, inquires of him the 
place of his habitation, and is directed: alights first on mount 
Niphates. 

Hail, holy Light ! offspring of Heaven firstborn ! 

Or of the Eternal coeternal beam, 

May I express thee unblamed ? since God is light, 



5 8 PARADISE LOST. 

And never but in unapproached light 

Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee, 

Bright effluence of bright essence increate. 

Or hear'st thou rather, pure ethereal stream, 

Whose fountain who shall tell? Before the sun, 

Before the Heavens thou wert ; and at the voice 

Of God, as with a mantle didst invest xo 

The rising world of waters dark and deep, 

Won from the void and formless infinite. 

Thee I revisit now with bolder wing, 

Escaped the Stygian pool, though long detained 

In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight, 

Through utter and through middle darkness borne, 

With other notes than to the Orphean lyre 

I sung of Chaos and eternal Night ; 

Taught by the heavenly muse to venture down 

The dark descent, and up to re-ascend, 20 

Though hard and rare : thee I revisit safe, 

And feel thy sovereign vital lamp ; but thou 

Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain 

To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn ; 

So thick a drop-serene hath quenched their orbs, 

Or dim suffusion veiled. Yet not the more 

Cease I to wander where the Muses haunt 

Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, 

Smit with the love of sacred song ; but chief 

Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, 30 

That washed thy hallowed feet, and warbling flow, 

Nightly I visit : nor sometimes forget 

Those other two equalled with me in fate, 

So were I equalled with them in renown, 

Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides, 



BOOK in. 59 

And Tiresias and Phineus, prophets old : 

Then feed on thoughts that voluntary move 

Harmonious numbers ; as the wakeful bird 

Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid 

Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year 4° 

Seasons return ; but not to me returns 

Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, 

Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, 

Or flocks, of herds, or human face divine ; 

But cloud instead, and ever- during dark 

Surrounds me, from the. cheerful ways of men 

Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair 

Presented with a universal blank 

Of Nature's works, to me expunged and rased, 

And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. 5° 

So much the rather thou, celestial Light, 

Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers 

Irradiate ; there plant eyes, all mist from thence 

Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell 

Of things invisible to mortal sight. 

Now had the Almighty Father from above, 
From the pure empyrean where he sits 
High throned above all height, bent down his eye, 
His own works and their works at once to view : 
About him all the sanctities of Heaven 6o 

Stood thick as stars, and from his sight received 
Beatitude past utterance ; on his right 
The radiant image of his glory sat, 
His only Son ; on earth he first beheld 
Our two first parents, yet the only two 
Of mankind, in the happy garden placed, 
Reaping immortal fi aits of joy and love, 



60 PARADISE LOST, 

Uninterrupted joy, unrivalled love, 

In blissful solitude ; he then surveyed 

Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there ?0 

Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night, 

In the dun air sublime, and ready now 

To stoop with wearied wings and willing feet 

On the bare outside of this world, that seemed 

Firm land embosomed, without firmament, 

Uncertain which, in ocean or in air. 

Him God beholding from his prospect high, 

Wherein past, present, future, he beholds, 

Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake : 

" Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage 8o 

Transports our adversary? whom no bounds 
Prescribed, no bars of Hell, nor all the chains 
Heaped on him there, nor yet the main abyss 
Wide interrupt, can hold ; so bent he seems 
On desperate revenge, that shall redound 
Upon his own rebellious head. And now, 
Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way 
Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, 
Directly towards the new-created world, 
And man there placed, with purpose to essay 9° 

If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, 
By some false guile pervert ; and shall pervert : 
For man will hearken to his glozing lies, 
And easily transgress the sole command, 
Sole pledge of his obedience : so will fall 
He and his faithless progeny. Whose fault? 
Whose but his own? Ingrate, he had of me 
All he could have : I made him just and right, 
Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. 






BOOK III 6l 

Such I created all the ethereal powers I0 ° 

And spirits, both them who stood, and them who failed ; 

Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. 

Not free, what proof could they have given sincere 

Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love, 

Where only what they needs must do appeared, 

Not what they would ? what praise could they receive ? 

What pleasure I from such obedience paid, 

When will and reason (reason also is choice), 

Useless and vain, of freedom both despoiled, 

Made passive both, had served necessity, no 

Not me ? They therefore as to right belonged, 

So were created, nor can justly accuse 

Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, 

As if predestination over-ruled 

Their will, disposed by absolute decree 

Or high foreknowledge ; they themselves decreed 

Their own revolt, not I ; if I foreknew, 

Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, 

Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. 

So without least impulse or shadow of fate, t2o 

Or aught by me immutably foreseen, 

They trespass, authors to themselves in all 

Both what they judge, and what they choose ; for so 

1 formed them free : and free they must remain, 

Till they inthrall themselves ; I else must change 

Their nature, and revoke the high decree 

Unchangeable, eternal, which ordained 

Their freedom ; they themselves ordained their fall. 

The first sort by their own suggestion fell, 

Self-tempted, self-depraved : man falls, deceived 130 

By the other first : man therefore shall find grace, 



62 PARADISE LOST. 

The other none : in mercy and justice both, 
Through Heaven and earth, so shall my glory excel ; 
But mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine. " 

Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance filled 
All Heaven, and in the blessed spirits elect 
Sense of new joy ineffable diffused. 
Beyond compare the Son of God was seen 
Most glorious ; in him all his Father shone 
Substantially expressed ; and in his face H° 

Divine compassion visibly appeared, 
Love without end, and without measure grace, 
Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake : 

" O Father, gracious was that word which closed 
Thy sovereign sentence, that man should find grace ; 
For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol 
Thy praises, with the innumerable sound 
Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne 
Encompassed shall resound thee ever blessed. 
For should man finally be lost, should man, . I S° 
Thy creature late so loved, thy youngest son, 
Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joined 
With his own folly? that be from thee far, 
That far be from thee, Father, who art judge 
Of all things made, and judgest only right. 
Or shall the Adversary thus obtain 
His end, and frustrate thine ? shall he fulfil 
His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, 
Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, 
Yet with revenge accomplished, and to Hell »6o 

Draw after him the whole race of mankind, 
By him corrupted ? or wilt thou thyself 
Abolish thy creation, and unmake, 



BOOK III. 63 

For him, what for thy glory thou hast made ? 
So should thy goodness and thy greatness both 
Be questioned and blasphemed without defence." 

To whom the great Creator thus replied : 
" O Son, in whom my soul hath chief delight, 
Son of my bosom, Son who art alone 
My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, l l° 

All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all 
As my eternal purpose hath decreed : 
Man shall not quite *be lost, but saved who will, 
Yet not of will in him, but grace in me 
Freely vouchsafed ; once more I will renew 
His lapsed powers, though forfeit, and inthralled 
By sin to foul exorbitant desires ; 
Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand 
On even ground against his mortal foe ; 
By me upheld, that he may know how frail l8 ° 

His fallen condition is, and to me owe 
All his deliverance, and to none but me. 
Some I have chosen of peculiar grace, 
Elect above the rest ; so is my will : 
The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warned 
Their sinful state, and to appease betimes 
The incensed Deity, while offered grace 
Invites ; for I will clear their senses dark, 
What may suffice, and soften stony hearts 
To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. J 9° 

To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, 
Though but endeavored with sincere intent, 
Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. 
And I will place within them as a guide 
My umpire Conscience, whom, if they will hear, 



64 PARADISE LOST. 

Light after light well used they shall attain, 

And to the end persisting, safe arrive. 

This my long sufferance and my day of grace, 

They who neglect and scorn shall never taste ; 

But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more, 2 ° 

That they may stumble on, and deeper fall ; 

And none but such from mercy I exclude. 

But yet all is not done : man disobeying, 

Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins 

Against the high supremacy of Heaven, 

Affecting godhead, and so losing all, 

To expiate his treason hath nought left, 

But to destruction sacred and devote, 

He with his whole posterity must die. 

Die he or justice must ; unless for him 2I 

Some other able, and as willing, pay 

The rigid satisfaction — death for death. 

Say, heavenly powers, where shall we find such love ? 

Which of ye will be mortal to redeem 

Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save ? 

Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? " 

He asked ; but all the heavenly choir stood mute, 
And silence was in Heaven : on man's behalf 
Patron or intercessor none appeared, 
Much less that durst upon his own head draw 
The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. 
And now without redemption all mankind 
Must have been lost, adjudged to death and Hell 
By doom severe, had not the Son of God, 
In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, 
His dearest mediation thus renewed : 

" Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace ; 






BOOK III. 65 

And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, 

The speediest of thy winged messengers, 

To visit all thy creatures, and to all 2 3° 

Comes unprevented, unimplored, unsought? 

Happy for man, so coming ; he her aid 

Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost ; 

Atonement for himself or offering meet, 

Indebted and undone, hath none to bring : 

Behold me, then ; me for him, life for life, 

I offer ; on me let thine anger fall ; 

Account me man ; I for his sake will leave 

Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee 

Freely put off, and for him lastly die 2 4° 

Well pleased ; on me let Death wreak all his rage ; 

Under his gloomy power I shall not long 

Lie vanquished ; thou hast given me to possess 

Life in myself forever ; by thee I live, 

Though now to Death I yield, and am his due 

All that of me can die ; yet, that debt paid, 

Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave 

His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul 

Forever with corruption there to dwell ; 

But I shall rise victorious, and subdue 2 5° 

My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil ; 

Death his death's wound shall then receive, and stoop 

Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed. 

I through the ample air in triumph high 

Shall lead Hell captive, maugre Hell, and show 

The powers of darkness bound. Thou, at the sight 

Pleased, out of Heaven shall look down and smile, 

While by thee raised I ruin all my foes, 

Death last, and with his carcass glut the grave : 



66 PARADISE LOST. 

Then with the multitude of my redeemed 2 6° 

Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, 
Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud 
Of anger shall remain, but peace assured 
And reconcilement ; wrath shall be no more 
Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire." 

His words here ended, but his meek aspect 
Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love 
To mortal men, above which only shone 
Filial obedience ; as a sacrifice 

Glad to be offered, he attends the will 2 7<> 

Of his great Father. Admiration seized 
All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, 
Wondering ; but soon the Almighty thus replied : 

" O thou in Heaven and earth the only peace 
Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou, 
My soul complacence ! well thou know'st how dear 
To me are all my works, nor man the least, 
Though last created ; that for him I spare 
Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, 
By losing thee awhile, the whole race lost. 28 ° 

Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, 
Their nature also to thy nature join ; 
And be thyself man among men on earth, 
Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed, 
By wondrous birth : be thou in Adam's room 
The head of all mankind, though Adam's son. 
As in him perish all men, so in thee, 
As from a second root, shall be restored 
As many as are restored, without thee none. 
His crime makes guilty all his sons ; thy merit, 290 
Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce 



BOOK III. 67 

Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, 

And live in thee transplanted, and from thee 

Receive new life. So man, as is most just, 

Shall satisfy for man, be judged and die, 

And dying rise, and rising with him, raise 

His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life. 

So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, 

Giving to death, and dying to redeem, 

So dearly to redeem what hellish hate 3°° 

So easily destroyed, and still destroys 

In those who, when they may, accept not grace. 

Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume 

Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own. 

Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss 

Equal to God, and equally enjoying 

God-like fruition, quitted all to save 

A world from utter loss, and hast been found 

By merit more than birthright Son of God, 

Found worthiest to be so by being good, 3 10 

Far more than great or high ; because in thee 

Love hath abounded more than glory abounds, 

Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt 

With thee thy manhood also to this throne ; 

Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign 

Both God and man, Son both of God and man, 

Anointed universal King ; all power 

I give thee ; reign forever, and assume 

Thy merits ; under thee as head supreme 

Thrones, princedoms, powers, dominions, I reduce : 3 2b 

All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide 

In Heaven or earth, or under earth in Hell. 

When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, 



68 PARADISE LOST. 

Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send 

The summoning archangels to proclaim 

Thy dread tribunal ; forthwith from all winds 

The living, and forthwith the cited dead 

Of all past ages, to the general doom 

Shall hasten ; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. 

Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge 33° 

Bad men and angels ; they arraigned shall sink 

Beneath thy sentence ; Hell, her numbers full, 

Thenceforth shall be forever shut. Meanwhile 

The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring 

New Heaven and earth, wherein the just shall dwell, 

And after all their tribulations long 

See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, 

With joy and love triumphing, and fair truth. 

Then thou thy regal sceptre shalt lay by, 

For regal sceptre then no more shall need ; 34° 

God shall be all in all. But, all ye gods, 

Adore him who to compass all this dies ; 

Adore the Son, and honor him as me." 

No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all 
The multitude of angels, with a shout 
Loud as from numbers without number, sweet 
As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung 
With jubilee, and loud hosannas filled 
The eternal regions : lowly reverent 
Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground 35° 
With solemn adoration down they cast 
Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold ; 
Immortal amarant, a flower which once 
In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, 
Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence 






BOOK III. 69 

To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows 

And flowers aloft shading the fount of life, 

And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven 

Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream ; 

With these, that never fade, the spirits elect 3 6 ° 

Bind their resplendent locks enwreathed with beams : 

Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright 

Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, 

Empurpled with celestial roses, smiled. 

Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took, 

Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side 

Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet 

Of charming symphony they introduce 

Their sacred song, and waken raptures high ; 

No voice exempt, no voice but well could join 37° 

Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. 

"Thee, Father," first they sung, "Omnipotent, 
Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, 
Eternal King ; thee, Author of all being, 
Fountain of light, thyself invisible 
Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sitt'st 
Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest 
The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud 
Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, 
Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, 3 8 ° 

Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest seraphim 
Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. 
Thee," next they sang, "of all creation first, 
Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, 
In whose conspicuous count'nance, without cloud 
Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, 
Whom else no creature can behold ; on thee 



yo PARADISE LOST. 

Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, 

Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. 

He Heaven of Heavens, and all the powers therein, 39° 

By thee created, and by t'hee threw down 

The aspiring dominations : thou that day 

Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare, 

Nor stop thy flaming chariot wheels, that shook 

Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks 

Thou drovest of warring angels disarrayed. 

Back from pursuit thy powers with loud acclaim 

Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father's might, 

To execute fierce vengeance on his foes ; 

Not so on man : him, through their malice fallen, 4 00 

Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom 

So strictly, but much more to pity incline : 

No sooner did thy dear and only Son 

Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail man 

So strictly, but much more to pity inclined, 

He, to appease thy wrath, and end the strife 

Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned, 

Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat 

Second to thee, offered himself to die 

For man's offence. O unexampled love, 4 10 

Love nowhere to be found less than Divine ! 

Hail, Son of God, Saviour of men ! Thy name 

Shall be the copious matter of my song 

Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise 

Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin." 

Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere, 
Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent. 
Meanwhile upon the firm opacous globe 
Of this round world, whose first convex divides 



BOOK Iff. 71 

The luminous inferior orbs enclosed 4 2 ° 

From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old, 

Satan alighted walks : a globe far off 

It seemed, now seems a boundless continent, 

Dark, waste, and w T ild, under the frown of night 

Starless exposed, and ever-threat'ning storms 

Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky ; 

Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven, 

Though distant far, some small reflection gains 

Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud : 

Here walked the fiend at large in spacious field. 43° 

. . . Far distant he descries, 
Ascending by degrees magnificent 
Up to the wall of Heaven, a structure high ; 
At top whereof, but far more rich, appeared 
The work as of a kingly palace gate, 
With frontispiece of diamond and gold 
Embellished ; thick with sparkling orient gems 
The portal shone, inimitable on earth 
By model, or by shading pencil drawn. 
The stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw 5 10 

Angels ascending and descending, bands 
Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled 
To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz, 
Dreaming by night under the open sky, 
And waking cried, ' This is the gate of Heaven.' 
Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood 
There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes 
Viewless ; and underneath a bright sea flowed 
Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon 
Who after came from earth, sailing arrived, 5 20 

Wafted by angels, or flew o'er the lake 



*J2 PARADISE LOST. 

Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. 
The stairs were then let down, whether to dare 
The fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate 
His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss : 
Direct against which opened from beneath, 
Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, 
A passage down to the earth, a passage wide, 
Wider by far than that of after times 
Over Mount Sion, and, though that were large, 53° 
Over the promised land to God so dear, 
By which, to visit oft those happy tribes, 
On high behests his angels to and fro 
Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard 
From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood, 
To Beersaba, where the Holy Land 
Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore ; 
So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set 
To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave. 
) Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, 54° 

That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate, 
Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 
Of all this world at once. As when a scout, 
Through dark and desert ways with peril gone 
All night, at last by break of cheerful dawn 
Obtains the brow of some high- climbing hill, 
Which to his eye discovers unaware 
The goodly prospect of some foreign land 
First seen, or some renowned metropolis, 
With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, 55° 

Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams : 
Such wonder seized, though after Heaven seen, 
The spirit malign, but much more envy seized, 



BOOK in. 73 

At sight of all this world beheld so fair. 

Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood 

So high above the circling canopy 

Of night's extended shade), from eastern point 

Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears 

Andromeda far off Atlantic seas, 

Beyond the horizon ; then from pole to pole 5 6 ° 

He views in breadth, and without longer pause 

Down right into the world's first region throws 

His flight precipitant, and winds with ease 

Through the pure marble air his oblique way 

Amongst innumerable stars, that shone 

Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds ; 

Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles, 

Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, 

Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales ; 

Thrice happy isles, but who dwelt happy there 57° 

He staid not to inquire : above them all 

The golden sun, in splendor likest Heaven, 

Allured his eye : thither his course he bends 

Through the calm firmament (but up or down, 

By centre or eccentric, hard to tell, 

Or longitude), where the great luminary 

Aloof the vulgar constellations thick, 

That from his lordly eye keep distance due, 

Dispenses light from far ; they as they move 

Their starry dance in numbers that compute 5 8 ° 

Days, months, and years, towards his all- cheering lamp 

Turn swift their various motions, or are turned 

By his magnetic beam, that gently warms 

The universe, and to each inward part 

With gentle penetration, though unseen, 



74 PARADISE LOST. 

Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep ; 

So wondrously was set his station bright. 

There lands the fiend, a spot like which, perhaps, 

Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb 

Through his glazed optic tube yet never saw. 59° 

The place he found beyond expression bright, 

Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone ; 

Not all parts like, but all alike informed 

With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire ; 

If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear ; 

If stone, carbuncle most, or chrysolite, 

Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone 

In Aaron's breastplate, and a stone besides 

Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen, 

That stone, or like to that, which here below 6o ° 

Philosophers in vain so long have sought ; 

In vain, though by their powerful art they bind 

Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound 

In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, 

Drained through a limbec to his native form. 

What wonder then if fields and regions here 

Breathe forth elixir pure, and rivers run 

Portable gold, when with one virtuous touch 

The arch-chemic sun, so far from us remote, 

Produces, with terrestrial humor mixed, & 10 

Here in the dark so many precious things 

Of color glorious and effect so rare ? 

Here matter new to gaze the Devil met 

Undazzled ; far and wide his eye commands ; 

For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, 

But all sunshine, as when his beams at noon 

Culminate from the equator, as they now 



book in. 75 

Shot upward still direct, whence no way round 

Shadow from body opaque can fall ; and the air, 

Nowhere so clear, sharpened his visual ray 62 ° 

To objects distant far, whereby he soon 

Saw within ken a glorious angel stand, 

The same whom John saw also in the sun : 

His back was turned, but not his brightness hid ; 

Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar 

Circled his head, nor less his locks behind, 

Illustrious on his shoulders, fledge with wings, 

Lay waving round ; on some great charge employed 

He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. 

Glad was the spirit impure, as now in hope 6 3° 

To find who might direct his wandering flight 

To Paradise, the happy seat of man, 

His journey's end, and our beginning woe. 

But first he casts to change his proper shape, 

Which else might work him danger or delay : 

And now a stripling cherub he appears, 

Not of the prime, yet such as in his face 

Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb 

Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned : 

Under a coronet his flowing hair 640 

In curls on either cheek played ; wings he wore 

Of many a colored plume, sprinkled with gold ; 

His habit fit for speed succinct, and held 

Before his decent steps a silver wand. 

He drew not nigh unheard ; the angel bright, 

Ere he drew high, his radiant visage turned, 

Admonished by his ear, and straight was known 

The archangel Uriel, one of the seven 

Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, 



y6 PAXAD7SE LOST. 

Stand ready at command, and are his eyes 6 5° 

That run through all the Heavens, or down to the earth 
Bear his swift errands, over moist and dry, 
O'er sea and land : him Satan thus accosts : 

" Uriel, for thou of those seven spirits that stand 
In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, 
The first art wont his great authentic will 
Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring, 
Where all his sons thy embassy attend ; 
And here art likeliest by supreme decree 
Like honor to obtain, and as his eye 66 ° 

To visit oft this new creation round ; 
Unspeakable desire to see, and know 
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, 
His chief delight and favor, him for whom 
All these his works so wondrous he ordained, 
Hath brought me from the choirs of cherubim 
Alone thus wandering. Brightest seraph, tell 
In which of all these shining orbs hath man 
His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, 
But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell ; 6 7° 

That I may find him, and with secret gaze 
Or open admiration him behold, 
On whom the great Creator hath bestowed 
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured ; 
That both in him and all things, as is meet, 
The universal Maker we may praise, 
Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes 
To deepest hell, and to repair that loss 
Created this new happy race of men 
To serve him better : wise are all his ways." 68 ° 

So spake the false dissembler unperceived ; 



book in. 77 

For neither man nor angel can discern 

Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks 

Invisible, except to God alone, 

By his permissive will, through Heaven and earth : 

And oft, though Wisdom wake, Suspicion sleeps 

At Wisdom's gate, and to Simplicity 

Resigns her charge, while Goodness thinks no ill 

Where no ill seems : which now for once beguiled 

Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held 6 9° 

The sharpest-sighted spirit of all in Heaven ; 

Who to the fraudulent impostor foul 

In his uprightness answer thus returned : 

" Fair angel, thy desire, which tends to know 
The works of God, thereby to glorify 
The great Work- Master, leads to no excess 
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise 
The more it seems excess, that led thee hither 
From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, 
To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, 7°° 
Contented with report, hear only in Heaven : 
For wonderful indeed are all his works, 
Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 
Had in remembrance always with delight ; 
But what created mind can comprehend 
Their number, or the wisdom infinite 
That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep ? 
I saw when at his word the formless mass, 
This world's material mould, came to a heap : 
Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar 7 10 

Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined ; 
Till at his second bidding darkness fled, 
Light shone, and order from disorder sprung : 



?8 PARADISE LOST. 

Swift to their several quarters hasted then 
The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire ; 
And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven 
Flew upward, spirited with various forms, 
That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars 
Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move ; 
Each had his place appointed, each his course ; 7 20 
The rest in circuit walls this universe. 
Look downward on that globe, whose hither side 
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines ; 
That place is earth, the seat of man ; that light 
His day, which else, as the other hemisphere, 
Night would invade ; but there the neighboring moon 
(So call that opposite fair star) her aid 
Timely interposes, and her monthly round 
Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, 
With borrowed light her countenance triform 73° 

Hence fills and empties to enlighten the earth, 
And in her pale dominion checks the night. 
That spot to which I point is Paradise, 
Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bower. 
Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.' ' 
Thus said, he turned ; and Satan, bowing low, 
As to superior spirits is wont in Heaven, 
Where honor due and reverence none neglects, 
Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, 
Down from the ecliptic, sped with hoped success, 74° 
Throws his steep flight in many an airy wheel ; 
Nor stayed, till on Niphates' top he lights. 






book iv. 79 



BOOK IV. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Satan, now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he 
must now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone 
against God and man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many 
passions, fear, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in 
evil, journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation 
are described, overleaps the bounds, sits in the shape of a cormorant on 
the tree of life, as the highest in the garden, to look about him. The 
garden described ; Satan's first sight of Adam and Eve ; his wonder 
at their excellent form and happy state, but with resolution to work 
their fall ; overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the tree of 
knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death ; and 
thereon intends to found his temptation, by seducing them to trans- 
gress ; then leaves them awhile, to know further of their state by some 
other means. Meanwhile, Uriel, descending on a sunbeam, warns 
Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil spirit 
had escaped the deep, and passed at noon by his sphere in the shape 
of a good angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious ges- 
tures in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night 
coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest : their 
bower described; their evening worship. Gabriel, drawing forth his 
bands of night-watch to walk the rounds of Paradise, appoints two 
strong angels to Adam's bower, lest the evil spirit should be there 
doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping ; there they find him at the 
ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, 
to Gabriel ; by whom questioned, he scornfully answers ; prepares re- 
sistance, but, hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise. 

Oh for that warning voice, which he who saw 
The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud, 
Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 
Came furious down to be revenged on men, 
" Woe to the inhabitants on earth ! " that now, 



80 PARADISE LOST. 

While time was, our first parents had been warned 

The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped, 

Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare : for now 

Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, 

The tempter ere the accuser of mankind, Ic > 

To wreak on innocent frail man his loss 

Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell : 

Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold 

Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, 

Begins his dire attempt ; which, nigh the birth, 

Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, 

And like a devilish engine back recoils 

Upon himself; horror and doubt distract 

His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir 

The Hell within him \ for within him Hell 20 

He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell 

One step, no more than from himself, can fly / 

By change of place : now conscience wakes despair 

That slumbered, wakes the bitter memory 

Of what he was, what is, and what must be 

Worse ; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. 

Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view 

Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad ; 

Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full blazing sun, 

Which now sat high in his meridian tower : 3° 

Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began : 

" O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, 
Lookest from thy sole dominion, like the god 
Of this new world ; at whose sight all the stars 
Hide their diminished heads ; to thee I call, 
But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, 
O sun ! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, 



BOOK IV. 8 1 

That bring to my remembrance from what state 
I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere ; 
\ Till pride and worse ambition threw me down, 4° 

Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King : 
Ah, wherefore? He deserved no such return 
From me, whom he created what I was 
In that bright eminence, and with his good 
Upbraided none ; nor was his service hard. 
What could be less than to afford him praise, 
The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks ? 
How due ! yet all his good proved ill in me, 
And wrought but malice ; lifted up so high 
I 'sdained subjection, and thought one step higher 5° 
Would set me highest, and in a moment quit 
The debt immense of endless gratitude, 
So burdensome still paying, still to owe, 
Forgetful what from him I still received ; 
And understood not that a grateful mind 
By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 
Indebted and discharged ; what burden then ? 
Oh, had his powerful destiny ordained 
Me some inferior angel, I had stood 
Then happy ; no unbounded hope had raised 6o 

Ambition. Yet why not ? some other power 
As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, 
Drawn to his part ; but other powers as great 
Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within 
Or from without, to all temptations armed. 
Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand ? 
Thou hadst : whom hast thou then or what to accuse, 
But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all ? 
Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, 



82 PARADISE LOST. 

To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 7° 

Nay, cursed be thou ; since against his thy will 
Chose freely what it now so justly rues, 
j Me miserable ! which way shall I fly 
Infinite wrath and infinite despair? 
Which way I fly is Hell ; myself am Hell ; 
And in the lowest deep a lower deep 
Still threatening to devour me opens wide, 
To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. 
Oh, then at last relent : is there no place 
Left for repentance, none for pardon left ? 8o 

None left but by submission ; and that word 
Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame 
Among the spirits beneath, whom I seduced 
With other promises and other vaunts 
Than to submit, boasting I could subdue 
The Omnipotent. Ay me ! they little know 
How dearly I abide that boast so vain, 
Under what torments inwardly I groan, 
While they adore me on the throne of Hell. 
With diadem and sceptre high advanced, 9° 

The lower still I fall, only supreme 
In misery ; such joy ambition finds. 
But say 1 could repent and could obtain 
By act of grace my former state ; how soon 
Would height recall high thoughts, how soon unsay 
What feigned submission swore ! Ease would recant 
Vows made in pain, as violent and void. 
For never can true reconcilement grow 
Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep : 
Which would but lead me to a worse relapse I0 ° 

And heavier fall : so should I purchase dear 



BOOK IV. 83 

Short intermission, bought with double smart. 

This knows my Punisher • therefore as far 

From granting he, as I from begging, peace : 

All hope excluded thus, behold instead 

Of us outcast, exiled, his new delight, 

Mankind created, and for him this world. 

So farewell hope, and with hope, farewell fear, 

Farewell remorse ; all good to me is lost ; 

Evil, be thou my good ; by thee at least IIQ 

Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold, 

By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign ; 

As man ere long and this new world shall know." 

Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face, 
Thrice changed with pale ire, envy, and despair ; 
Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed 
Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. 
For heavenly minds from such distempers foul 
Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware, 
Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm, I2 ° 
Artificer of fraud ; and was the first 
That practised falsehood under saintly show, 
Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge ; 
Yet not enough had practised to deceive 
Uriel once warned ; whose eye pursued him down 
The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount 
Saw him disfigured, more than could befall 
Spirit of happy sort : his gestures fierce 
He marked and mad demeanor, then alone, 
As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen. J 3° 

So on he fares, and to the border comes 
Of Eden, where delicious Paradise, 
Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green, 



84 PARADISE LOST. 

As with a rural mound, the champaign head 

Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides 

With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild, 

Access denied ; and overhead up grew 

Insuperable height of loftiest shade, 

Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, 

A sylvan scene ; and, as the ranks ascend J 4° 

Shade above shade, a woody theatre 

Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops 

The verdurous wall of Paradise up-sprung : 

Which to our general sire gave prospect large 

Into his nether empire neighboring round. 

And higher than that wall a circling row 

Of goodliest trees loaden with fairest fruit, 

Blossoms and fruits at once, of golden hue, 

Appeared, with gay enamelled colors mixed : 

On which the sun more glad impressed his beams J 5° 

Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, 

When God hath showered the earth ; so lovely seemed 

That landscape ; and of pure, now purer air 

Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires 

Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 

All sadness but despair : now gentle gales, 

Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense 

Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 

Those balmy spoils. As when to them who sail 

Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past l6 ° 

Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow 

Sabean odors from the spicy shore 

Of Araby the Blest ; with such delay 

Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league 

Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles 






BOOK IV. 85 

So entertained those odorous sweets the fiend 
Who came their bane, though with them better pleased 
Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume, 
That drove him, though enamored, from the spouse 
Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent *7° 

From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. 
Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill 
Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow ; 
But further way found none, so thick entwined, 
As one continued brake, the undergrowth 
Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed 
All path of man or beast that passed that way : 
One gate there only was, and that looked east 
On the other side : which, when the archfelon saw, 
Due entrance he disdained, and, in contempt, l8 ° 

At one slight bound high overleaped all bound 
Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within 
Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, 
Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, 
Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve 
In hurdled cotes amid the field secure, 
Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold : 
Or as a thief bent to unhoard the cash 
Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, 
Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault, 190 

In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles : 
So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold ; 
So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. 
Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, 
The middle tree and highest there that grew, 
Sat like a cormorant : yet not true life 
Thereby regained, but sat devising death 



86 PARADISE LOST. 

To them who lived • nor on the virtue thought 

Of that life-giving plant, but only used 

For prospect, what, well used, had been the pledge 20 ° 

Of immortality. So little knows 

Any, but God alone, to value right 

The good before him, but perverts best things 

To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. 

Beneath him with new wonder now he views, 

To all delight of human sense exposed, 

In narrow room Nature's whole wealth, yea, more, 

A Heaven on earth : for blissful Paradise 

Of God the garden was, by him in the east 

Of Eden planted ; Eden stretched her line 2I ° 

From Auran eastward to the royal towers 

Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, 

Or where the sons of Eden long before 

Dwelt in Telassar : in this pleasant soil 

His far more pleasant garden God ordained ; 

Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow 

All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste ; 

And all amid them stood the tree of life, 

High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit 

Of vegetable gold ; and next to life, 22 ° 

Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, 

Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill. 

Southward through Eden went a river large, 

Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill 

Passed underneath engulfed ; for God had thrown 

That mountain as his garden mould high raised 

Upon the rapid current, which through veins 

Of porous earth with kindly thirst up- drawn, 

Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill 






BOOK IV, 87 

Watered the garden ; thence united fell 2 3° 

Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, 

Which from his darksome passage now appears, 

And now divided into four main streams, 

Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm 

And country, whereof here needs no account ; 

But rather to tell how, if art could tell, 

How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, 

Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, 

With mazy error under pendent shades 

Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 2 4° 

Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice art 

In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon 

Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, 

Both where the morning sun first warmly smote 

The open field, and where the unpierced shade 

Imbrowned the noontide bowers : thus was this place 

A happy rural seat of various views ; 

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, 

Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, 

Hung amiable (Hesperian fables true, 2 5° 

If true, here only), and of delicious taste. 

Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 

Grazing the tender herb, were interposed, 

Or palmy hillock ; or the flowery lap 

Of some irriguous valley spread her store, 

Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose : 

Another side, umbrageous grots and caves 

Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine 

Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps 

Luxuriant ; meanwhile murmuring waters fall 26 ° 

Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, 



88 PARADISE LOST. 

That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned 

Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. 

The birds their choir apply ; airs, vernal airs, 

Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune 

The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, 

Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, 

Led on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field 

Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, 

Herself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis 2 7° 

Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain 

To seek her through the world ; nor that sweet grove 

Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired 

Castalian spring, might with this Paradise 

Of Eden strive ; nor that Nyseian isle 

Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, 

Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove, 

Hid Amalthea and her florid son, 

Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye ; 

Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, 28 ° 

Mount Amara, though this by some supposed 

True Paradise, under the Ethiop line 

By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock, 

A whole day's journey high, but wide remote 

From this Assyrian garden, where the fiend 

Saw undelighted all delight, all kind 

Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange. 

Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, 

Godlike erect, with native honor clad, 

In naked majesty, seemed lords of all, 290 

And worthy seemed ; for in their looks divine 

The image of their glorious Maker shone, 

Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure 



BOOK IV. 89 

(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed), 

Whence true authority in men ; though both 

Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed ; 

For contemplation he and valor formed ; 

For softness she, and sweet attractive grace ; 

He for God only, she for God in him : 

His fair large front and eye sublime declared 300 

Absolute rule ; and hyacinthine locks 

Round from his parted forelock manly hung 

Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad : 

She, as a veil, down to the slender waist 

Her unadorned golden tresses wore 

Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved, 

As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied 

Subjection, but required with gentle sway, 

And by her yielded, by him best received, 

Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, 310 

And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. 

Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed ; 

Then was not guilty shame : dishonest shame 

Gf nature's works, honor dishonorable, 

Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind 

With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, 

And banished from man's life his happiest life, 

Simplicity and spotless innocence ! 

So passed they naked on, nor shunned 

The sight of God or angel, for they thought no ill : 320 

So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair 

That ever since in love's embraces met; 

Adam the goodliest man of men since born 

His sons ; the fairest of her daughters Eve. 

Under a tuft of shade that on a green 



90 PARADISE LOST. 

Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side 

They sat them down ; and, after no more toil 

Of their sweet gardening labor than sufficed 

To recommend cool zephyr, and made ease 

More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite 330 

More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell ; 

Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs 

Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline 

On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers : 

The savory pulp they chew, and in the rind 

Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream : 

Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles 

Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems 

Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, 

Alone as they. About them frisking played 340 

All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase 

In wood or wilderness, forest or den ; 

Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw 

Dandled the kid ; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, 

Gambolled before them ; the unwieldy elephant, 

To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed 

His lithe proboscis ; close the serpent sly, 

Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine 

His braided train, and of his fatal guile 

Gave proof unheeded ; others on the grass 350 

Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, 

Or bedward ruminating ; for the sun, 

Declined, was hasting now with prone career 

To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale 

Of heaven, the stars that usher evening rose : 

When Satan, still in gaze, as first he stood, 

Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad : 



BOOK IV. 91 

" O Hell ! what do mine eyes with grief behold ! 
Into our room of bliss thus high advanced 
Creatures of other mould, earth-born, perhaps, 360 
Not spirits, yet to heavenly spirits bright 
Little inferior ; whom my thoughts pursue 
With wonder, and could love, so lively shines 
In them divine resemblance, and such grace 
The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured. 
Ah ! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh 
Your change approaches, when all these delights 
Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe, 
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy ; 
Happy, but for so happy ill secured 370 

Long to continue, and this high seat, your heaven, 
111 fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe 
As now is entered : yet no purposed foe 
To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, 
Though I unpitied : league with you I seek, 
And mutual amity, so straight, so close, 
That I with you must dwell, or you with me, 
Henceforth : my dwelling haply may not please, 
Like this fair Paradise, your sense ; yet such 
Accept your Maker's work ; he gave it me, 380 

Which I as freely give : Hell shall unfold, 
To entertain you two, her widest gates, 
And send forth all her kings ; there will be room, 
Not like these narrow limits, to receive 
Your numerous offspring ; if no better place, 
Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge 
On you who wrong me not for him who wronged. 
And should I at your harmless innocence 
Melt, as I do, yet public reason just, 



92 PARADISE LOST. 

Honor and empire, with revenge enlarged, 390 

By conquering this new world, compels me now 
To do what else, though damned, I should abhor." 

So spake the fiend, and with necessity, 
The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. 
Then from his lofty stand on that high tree 
Down he alights among the sportful herd 
Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, 
Now other, as their shape served best his end 
Nearer to view his prey, and unespied 
To mark what of their state he more might learn 400 
By word or action marked : about them round 
A lion now he stalks with fiery glare ; 
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied 
In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, 
Straight couches close, then rising, changes oft 
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, 
Whence rushing he might surest seize them both, 
Griped in each paw : when Adam, first of men, 
To first of women, Eve, thus moving speech, 
Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow : 4 i 

" Sole partner and sole part of all these joys, 
Dearer thyself than all ; needs must the Power 
That made us, and for us this ample world, 
Be infinitely good, and of his good 
As liberal, and free as infinite ; 
That raised us from the dust, and placed us here 
In all this happiness, who at his hand 
Have nothing merited, nor can perform 
Aught whereof he hath need, he who requires 
From us no other service than to keep 420 

This one, this easy charge, of all the trees 



book iv. 93 

In Paradise that bear delicious fruit 

So various, not to taste that only tree 

Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life ; 

So near grows death to life, what'er death is, 

Some dreadful thing, no doubt ; for well thou know'st 

God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, 

The only sign of our obedience left 

Among so many signs of power and rule 

Conferred upon us, and dominion given 43° 

Over all other creatures that possess 

Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard 

One easy prohibition, who enjoy 

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice 

Unlimited of manifold delights : 

But let us ever praise him, and extol 

His bounty, following our delightful task, 

To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, 

Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet." 

To whom thus Eve replied : " O thou, for whom 44° 
And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh, 
And without whom am to no end, my guide 
And head, what thou hast said is just and right. 
For we to him indeed all praises owe, 
And daily thanks ; I chiefly, who enjoy 
So far the happier lot, enjoying thee 
Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou 
Like consort to thyself canst nowhere find. 
That day I oft remember, when from sleep 
I first awaked, and found myself reposed 45° 

Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where 
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. 
Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound 



94 PARADISE LOST. 

Of waters issued from a cave, and spread 

Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved 

Pure as the expanse of Heaven ; I thither went 

With unexperienced thought, and laid me down 

On the green bank, to look into the clear, 

Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. 

As I bent down to look, just opposite 460 

A shape within the watery gleam appeared, 

Bending to look on me ; I started back, 

It started back ; but pleased I soon returned, 

Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks 

Of sympathy and love ; there I had fixed 

Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, 

Had not a voice thus warned me : ' What thou seest, 

What there thou seest, fair creature, is thyself; 

With thee it came and goes ; but follow me, 

And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 47° 

Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he 

Whose image thou art ; him thou shalt enjoy 

Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear 

Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called 

Mother of human race. 7 What could I do, 

But follow straight, invisibly thus led? 

Till I espied thee, fair indeed, and tall, 

Under a plantain ; yet methought less fair, 

Less winning soft, less amiably mild, 

Than that smooth watery image ; back I turned ; 4 8 ° 

Thou following criedst aloud, ' Return, fair Eve, 

Whom fliest thou? whom thou fliest, of him thou art, 

His flesh, his bone ; to give thee being I lent 

Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, 

Substantial life, to have thee by my side 



. BOOK iv. 95 

Henceforth an individual solace dear ; 
Part of my soul, I seek thee, and thee claim 
My other half.' With that thy gentle hand 
Seized mine ; I yielded, and from that time see 
How beauty is excelled by manly grace, 49° 

And wisdom which alone is truly fair." 

So spake our general mother, and with eyes 
Of conjugal attraction unreproved, 
And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned 
On our first father ; half her swelling breast 
Naked met his under the flowing gold 
Of her loose tresses hid : he in delight, 
Both of her beauty and submissive charms, 
Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter 
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds 5°° 

That shed May flowers ; and pressed her matron lip 
With kisses pure : aside the Devil turned 
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign 
Eyed them askance, and to himself thus 'plained : 

" Sight hateful, sight tormenting ! thus these two, 
Imparadised in one another's arms, 
The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill 
Of bliss on bliss ; while I to Hell am thrust, 
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, 
Among our other torments not the least, 5 IQ 

Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. 
Yet let me not forget what I have gained 
From their own mouths ; all is not theirs, it seems ; 
One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called, 
Forbidden them to taste : knowledge forbidden ? 
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord 
Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? 



96 paradise lost. 

Can it be death ? And do they only stand 
By ignorance ? Is that their happy state, 
The proof of their obedience and their faith ? 5 20 

O fair foundation laid whereon to build 
Their ruin ! Hence I will excite their minds 
With more desire to know, and to reject 
Envious commands, invented with design 
To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt 
Equal with gods : aspiring to be such, 
They taste and die : what likelier can ensue ? 
But first with narrow search I must walk round 
This garden, and no corner leave unspied ; 
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 53° 
Some wandering spirit of Heaven by fountain side, 
Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw 
What further would be learned. Live while ye may, 
Yet happy pair ; enjoy, till I return, 
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed." 
So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, 
But with sly circumspection, and began 
Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam. 
Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where Heaven 
With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun 54° 

Slowly descended, and with right aspect 
Against the eastern gate of Paradise 
Levelled his evening rays : it was a rock 
Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, 
Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent 
Accessible from earth, one entrance high ; 
The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung 
Still as it rose, impossible to climb. 
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, 



BOOK iv. 97 

Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night ; 55° 

About him exercised heroic games 

The unarmed youth of Heaven, but, nigh at hand, 

Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears, 

Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. 

Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even 

On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star 

In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fired 

Impress the air, and shows the mariner 

From what point of his compass to beware 

Impetuous winds : he thus began in haste : 5 6 ° 

" Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given 
Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place 
No evil thing approach or enter in. 
This day at height of noon came to my sphere 
A spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know 
More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly man, 
God's latest image : I described his way 
Bent all on speed, and marked his airy gait ; 
But on the mount that lies from Eden north, 
Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks 57° 
Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured : 
Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade 
Lost sight of him : one of the banished crew, 
I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise 
New troubles ; him thy care must be to find." 

To whom the winged warrior thus returned : 
" Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, 
Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitt'st, 
See far and wide : in at this gate none pass 
The vigilance here placed, but such as come 5 8 ° 

Well known from Heaven ; and since meridian hour 



98 PARADISE LOST. 

No creature thence : if spirit of other sort, 

So minded, have o'erleaped these earthly bounds 

On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude 

Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. 

But if within the circuit of these walks, 

In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom 

Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know." 

So promised he ; and Uriel to his charge 
Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised 
Bore him slope downward to the sun, now fallen 59 1 
Beneath the Azores ; whether the prime orb, 
Incredible how swift, had thither rolled 
Diurnal, or this less voluble earth, 
By shorter flight to the east, had left him there 
Arraying with reflected purple and gold 
The clouds that on his western throne attend. 

Now came still evening on, and twilight gray 
Had in her sober livery all things clad ; 
Silence accompanied ; for beast and bird, 6o ° 

They to their grassy couch, these to their nests 
Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale ; 
She all night long her amorous descant sung ; 
Silence was pleased : now glowed the firmament 
With living sapphires : Hesperus, that led 
The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, 
Rising in clouded majesty, at length, 
Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light, 
And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. 

When Adam thus to Eve : " Fair consort, the hour 
Of night, and all things now retired to rest, 6l1 

Mind us of light repose ; since God hath set 
Labor and rest, as day and night, to men 



book iv. 99 

Successive ; and the timely dew of sleep, 

Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines 

Our eyelids : other creatures all day long 

Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest ; 

Man hath his daily work of body or mind 

Appointed, which declares his dignity, 

And the regard of Heaven on all his ways ; 62 ° 

While other animals inactive range, 

And of their doings God takes no account. 

To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east 

With first approach of light, we must be risen, 

And at our pleasant labor, to reform 

Yon flowery arbors, yonder alleys green, 

Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, 

That mock our scant manuring, and require 

More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth : 

Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, 6 3° 

That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, 

Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease ; 

Meanwhile, as Nature wills, night bids us rest." 

To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned, 
' My author and disposer, what thou bidd'st 
Unargued I obey ; so God ordains ; 
God is thy law, thou mine : to know no more 
Is woman's happiest knowledge and her praise. 
With thee conversing I forget all time ; 
All seasons and their change, all please alike. 6 4° 

Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, 
With charm of earliest birds ; pleasant the sun, 
When first on this delightful land he spreads 
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, 
Glistering with dew ; fragrant the fertile earth 



IOO PARADISE LOST. 

After soft showers ; and sweet the coming on 

Of grateful evening mild ; then silent night, 

With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, 

And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train : 

But neither breath of morn, when she ascends 6 5° 

With charm of earliest birds ; nor rising sun 

On this delightful land ; nor herb, fruit, flower, 

Glistering with dew ) nor fragrance after showers ; 

Nor grateful evening mild ; nor silent night, 

With this her solemn bird ; nor walk by moon, 

Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet. 

But wherefore all night long shine these ? For whom 

This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?" 

To whom our general ancestor replied : 
" Daughter of God and man, accomplished Eve, 66 ° 
These have their course to finish round the earth, 
By morrow evening, and from land to land 
In order, though to nations yet unborn, 
Ministering light prepared, they set and rise ; 
Lest total darkness should by night regain 
Her old possession, and extinguish life 
In nature and all things ; which these soft fires 
Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat 
Of various influence foment and warm, 
Temper or nourish, or in part shed down 6 7° 

Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow 
On earth, made hereby apter to receive 
Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. 
These, then, though unbeheld in deep of night. 
Shine not in vain ; nor think, though men were none, 
That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise : 
Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth 



BOOK IV. IOI 

Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep : 

All these with ceaseless praise his works behold 

Both day and night. How often from the steep 68 ° 

Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard 

Celestial voices to the midnight air, 

Sole, or responsive each to other's note, 

Singing their great Creator ! Oft in bands 

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, 

With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds 

In full harmonic number joined, their songs 

Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven." 

Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed 
On to their blissful bower ; it was a place 6 9° 

Chosen by the sovereign Planter, when he framed 
All things to man's delightful use ; the roof 
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade 
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew 
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side 
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, 
Fenced up the verdant wall ; each beauteous flower, 
Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine, 
Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought 
Mosaic ; underfoot the violet, 1 0Q 

Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay 
Broidered the ground, more colored than with stone 
Of costliest emblem : other creature here, 
Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none : 
Such was their awe of man. In shadier bower 
More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, 
Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor nymph 
Nor faunus haunted. Here in close recess, 
With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, 



102 PARADISE LOST. 

Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed, I 10 

And heavenly choirs the hymenaean sung, 

What day the genial angel to our sire 

Brought her in naked beauty more adorned, 

More lovely than Pandora, whom the gods 

Endowed with all their gifts, and oh ! toe like 

In sad event, when to the unwiser son 

Of JapheJ brought by Hermes, she ensnared 

Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged 

On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. 

Thus at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, 7 2 ° 
Both turned, and under open sky adored 
The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, 
Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, 
And starry pole : " Thou also madest the night, 
Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, 
Which we in our appointed work employed 
Have finished, happy in our mutual help 
And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss, 
Ordained by thee ; and this delicious place, 
For us too large, where thy abundance wants 73° 

Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. 
But thou hast promised from us two a race 
To fill the earth, who shall with us extol 
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, 
And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. " 

This said unanimous, and other rites 
Observing none, but adoration pure, 
Which God likes best, into their inmost bower 
Handed they went ; and, eased the putting off 
These troublesome disguises which we wear, 74° 

Straight side by side were laid ; nor turned, I ween, 



BOOK IV. 103 

Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites 

Mysterious of connubial love refused ; 

Whatever hypocrites austerely talk 

Of purity, and place, and innocence, 

Defaming as impure what God declares 

Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. 

Our Maker bids increase ; who bids abstain 

But our destroyer, foe to God and man? 

Hail, wedded love ! mysterious law, true source 75° 

Of human offspring, sole propriety 

In Paradise of all things common else. 

By thee adulterous lust was driven from men 

Among the bestial herds to range ; by thee, 

Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, 

Relations dear, and all the charities 

Of father, son, and brother first were known. 

Far be it that I should write thee sin or blame, 

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, 

Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets, 760 

Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, 

Present or past, as saints and patriarchs used. 

Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights 

His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, 

Reigns here and revels ; not in the bought smile 

Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared, 

Casual fruition ; nor in court amours, 

Mixed dance, or wanton mask, midnight ball, 

Or serenade, which the starved lover sings 

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 77° 

These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept, 

And on their naked limbs the flowery roof 

Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on, 



104 PARADISE LOST. 

Blest pair ; and oh ! yet happiest, if ye seek 
No happier state, and know to know no more. 

Now had night measured with her shadowy cone 
Halfway up-hill this vast sublunar vault, 
And from their ivory port the cherubim, 
Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed 
To their night watches in warlike parade, 780 

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake : 

" Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south 
With strictest watch ; these other wheel the north ; 
Our circuit meets full west." As flame they part, 
Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 
From these, two strong and subtle spirits he called, 
That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge : 

" Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed 
Search through this garden ; leave unsearched no nook ; 
But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 79° 
Now laid, perhaps, asleep, secure of harm. 
This evening from the sun's decline arrived 
Who tells of some infernal spirit seen 
Hitherward bent (who could have thought ?) escaped 
The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt : 
Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring." 

So saying, on he led his radiant files, 
Dazzling the moon : these to the bower direct 
In search of whom they sought ; him there they found 

) Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, 8o ° 

Assaying by his devilish art to reach 
The organs of her fancy, and with them forge 

I Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams, 
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint 
The animal spirits that from pure blood arise 



BOOK IV. I05 

Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise 

At least distempered, discontented thoughts, 

Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, 

Blown up with high conceits engendering pride. 

Him thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear 8l ° 

Touched lightly ; for no falsehood can endure 

Touch of celestial temper, but returns 

Of force to its own likeness : up he starts, 

Discovered and surprised. As when a spark 

Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid 

Fit for the tun some magazine to store 

Against a rumored war, the smutty grain, 

With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air : 

So started up in his own shape the fiend. 

Back stepped those two fair angels, half amazed 82 ° 

So sudden to behold the grisly king ; 

Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon : 

" Which of those rebel spirits adjudged to Hell 
Comest thou, escaped thy prison ? and, transformed, 
Why satt'st thou like an enemy in wait, 
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?" 

" Know ye not then," said Satan, filled with scorn, 
" Know ye not me ? Ye knew me once no mate 
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar : 
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, 830 

The lowest of your throng ; or if ye know, 
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin 
Your message, like to end as much in vain? " 

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn : 
" Think not, revolted spirit, thy shape the same, 
Or undiminished brightness to be known, 
As when thou stood'st in Heaven, upright and pure ; 



106 PARADISE LOST, 

That glory then, when thou no more wast good, 

Departed from thee ; and thou resemblest now 

Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. S40 

But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account 

To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep 

This place inviolable, and these from harm." 

So spake the cherub ; and his grave rebuke, 
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace 
Invincible : abashed the Devil stood, 
And felt how awful goodness is, and saw 
Virtue in her shape how lovely ; saw, and pined 
His loss ; but chiefly to find here observed 
His lustre visibly impaired ; yet seemed 8 5° 

Undaunted. " If I must contend," said he, 
" Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, 
Or all at once ; more glory will be won, 
Or less be lost." "Thy fear," said Zephon bold, 
" Will save us trial what the least can do 
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak." 

The fiend replied not, overcome with rage ; 
But, like a proud steed reigned, went haughty on, 
Champing his iron curb : to strive or fly 
He held it vain : awe from above had quelled 860 

His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh 
The western point, where those half-rounding guards 
Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined, 
Awaiting next command. To whom their chief, 
Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud : 

" O friends ! I hear the tread of nimble feet 
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern 
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, 
And with them comes a third of regal port, 



BOOK IV. 107 

But faded splendor wan ; who, by his gait 8 7° 

And fierce demeanor, seems the prince of Hell, 
Not likely to part hence without contest ; 
Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours." 

He scarce had ended, when those two approached 
And brief related whom they brought, where found, 
How busied, in what form and posture couched. 

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake : 
" Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed 
To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge 
Of others, who approve not to transgress 88 ° 

By thy example, but have power and right 
To question thy bold entrance on this place ; 
Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those 
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?" 

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow : 
" Gabriel, thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise, 
And such I held thee ; but this question asked 
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? 
Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, 
Though thither doomed ? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt 
And boldly venture to whatever place 8 9* 

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change 
Torment with ease, and soonest recompense 
Dole with delight, which in this place I sought ; 
To thee no reason, who know'st only good, 
But evil hast not tried ; and wilt object 
His will who bound us ? Let him surer bar 
His iron gates, if he intends our stay 
In that dark durance : thus much what was asked. 
The rest is true, they found me where they say ; 9°° 
But that implies not violence or harm." 



108 PARADISE LOST. 

Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel moved, 
Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied : 
" O loss of one in Heaven, to judge of wise, 
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, 
And now returns him from his prison 'scaped, 
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise 
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither 
Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed ; 
So wise he judges it to fly from pain 9 X ° 

However, and to 'scape his punishment. 
So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath, 
Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight 
Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, 
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 
Can equal anger infinite provoked. 
But wherefore thou alone ? Wherefore with thee 
Came not all Hell broke loose ? Is pain to them 
Less pain, less to be fled ; or thou than they 
Less hardy to endure ? Courageous chief ! 9 2 ° 

The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleged 
To thy deserted host this cause of flight, 
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.' , 

To which the fiend thus answered, frowning stern : 
" Not that I less endure or shrink from pain, 
Insulting angel \ well thou know'st I stood 
Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid 
The blasting volleyed thunder made all speed, 
And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. 
But still thy words at random, as before, 93° 

Argue thy inexperience what behoves 
From hard assays and ill successes past, 
A faithful leader, not to hazard all 



BOOK IV. IO9 

Through ways of danger by himself untried : 

I, therefore, I alone first undertook 

To wing the desolate abyss, and spy 

This new created world, whereof in Hell 

Fame is not silent, here m hope to find 

Better abode, and my afflicted powers 

To settle here on earth, or in mid air ; 94° 

Though for possession put to try once more 

What thou and thy gay legions dare against ; 

Whose easier business were to serve their Lord 

High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, 

And practised distances to cringe, not fight." 

To whom the warrior angel soon replied : 
" To say and straight unsay, pretending first 
Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, 
Argues no leader, but a liar traced, 
Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 95° 
O sacred name of faithfulness profaned ! 
Faitiiful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? 
Army of fiends, fit body to fit head. 
Was this your discipline and faith engaged, 
Your military obedience, to dissolve 
Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme ? 
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem 
Patron of liberty, who more than thou 
Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored 
Heaven's awful monarch? wherefore, but in hope 9 6 ° 
To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? 
But mark what I arreed thee now : Avaunt ! 
Fly thither whence thou fledst : if from this hour 
Within these hallowed limits thou appear, 
Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, 



IIO PARADISE LOST. 

And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn 
The facile gates of Hell, too slightly barred. ,, 

So threatened he ; but Satan to no threats 
Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied : 

" Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, 97° 
Proud limitary cherub ! But ere then 
Far heavier load thyself expect to feel 
From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King 
Ride on thy wings, and thou, with thy compeers, 
Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels 
In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved." 

While thus he spake, the angelic squadron bright 
Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns 
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round 
With ported spears, as thick as when a field 9 8 ° 

Of Ceres, ripe for harvest, waving bends 
Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind 
Sways them ; the careful ploughman doubting stands, 
Lest on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves 
Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarmed, 
Collecting all his might, dilated stood, 
Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved : 
His stature reached the sky, and on his crest 
Sat horror plumed ; nor wanted in his grasp 
What seemed both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds 
Might have ensued; nor only Paradise, l 

In this commotion, but the starry cope 
Of Heaven, perhaps, or all the elements 
At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn 
With violence of this conflict, had not soon 
The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, 
Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen 



, 



BOOK IV. Ill 

Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign, 

Wherein all things created first he weighed, 

The pendulous round earth with balanced air IOO ° 

In counterpoise ; now ponders all events, 

Battles and realms : in these he put two weights, 

The sequel each of parting and of fight ; 

The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam, 

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the fiend : * 

"Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine, 
Neither our own, but given ; what folly, then, 
To boast what arms can do, since thine no more 
Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now 
To trample thee as mire ! For proof look up, 10I o 
And read thy lot in yon celestial sign, 
Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak, 
If thou resist. The fiend looked up, and knew 
His mounted scale aloft : nor more ; but fled 
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. 



112 PARADISE LOST. 



BOOK V. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Morning approached, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream j 
he likes it not, yet comforts her : they come forth to their day labors ; 
their morning hymn at the door of their bower. God, to render man 
inexcusable, sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his 
free estate, of his enemy near at hand, who he is, and why his enemy, 
and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down 
to Paradise ; his appearance described ; his coming discerned by 
Adam afar off, sitting at the door of his bower ; he goes out to meet 
him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits 
of Paradise got together by Eve ; their discourse at table : Raphael 
performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy ; 
relates, at Adam's request, who that enemy is, and how he came to be 
so, beginning from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occasion 
thereof ; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, 
and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all, but only 
Abdiel, a seraph, who in argument dissuades and opposes him, then 
forsakes him. 

Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime 

Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, 

When Adam waked, so customed ; for his sleep 

Was airy light, from pure digestion bred, 

And temperate vapors bland, which the only sound 

Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, 

Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song 

Of birds on every bough ; so much the more 

His wonder was to find unwakened Eve 

With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek, I0 

As through unquiet rest : he on his side 

Leaning, half raised, with looks of cordial love 






BOOK V. 113 

Hung over her enamored, and beheld 

Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, 

Shot forth peculiar graces ; then with voice 

Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, 

Her hand soft touching, whispered thus : " Awake, 

My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, 

Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight, 

Awake ; the morning shines, and the fresh field 2 ° 

Calls us ; we lose the prime to mark how spring 

Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove, 

What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed, 

How Nature paints her colors, how the bee 

Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet." 

Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye 
On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake : 

" O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, 
My glory, my perfection ! glad I see 

' Thy face, and morn returned ; for I this night 3° 

(Such night till this I never passed) have dreamed, 

) If dreamed, not, as I oft am wont, of thee, 
Works of day past, or morrow's next design, 
But of offence and trouble, which my mind 
Knew never till this irksome night : methought 
Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk, 
With gentle voice ; I thought it thine ; it said, 
' Why sleep'st thou, Eve ? Now is the pleasant time, 
The cool, the silent, save where silence yields 
To the night- warbling bird, that now awake 4° 

Tunes sweetest his love-labored song ; now reigns 
Full orbed the moon, and with more pleasing light 
Shadowy sets off the face of things ; in vain, 
If none regard ; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, 



114 PARADISE LOST. 

Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire ? 

In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment 

Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.' 

I rose as at thy call, but found thee not ; 

To find thee I directed then my walk ; 

And on, methought, alone I passed through ways 5° 

That brought me on a sudden to the tree 

Of interdicted knowledge : fair it seemed, 

Much fairer to my fancy than by day : 

And as I wondering looked, beside it stood 

One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven 

By us oft seen ; his dewy locks distilled 

Ambrosia ; on that tree he also gazed ; 

And ' O fair plant,' said he, ' with fruit surcharged, 

Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, 

Nor God nor man ? Is knowledge so despised ? 6o 

Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste ? 

Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold 

Longer thy offered good : why else set here ? ' 

This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm 

He plucked, he tasted ; me damp horror chilled 

At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold ; 

But he thus, overjoyed : ' O fruit divine, 

Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropped, 

Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 

For gods, yet able to make gods of men : 7© 

And why not gods of men, since good, the more 

Communicated, more abundant grows, 

The Author not impaired, but honored more? 

Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve, 

Partake thou also : happy though thou art, 

Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be : 



BOOK V. 115 

Taste this, and be henceforth among the gods 

Thyself a goddess, not to earth confined, 

But sometimes in the air, as we \ sometimes 

Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see 8o 

What life the gods live there, and such live thou.' 

So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, 

Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part 

Which he had plucked ; the pleasant savory smell 

So quickened appetite, that I, methought, 

Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds 

With him I flew, and underneath beheld 

The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide 

And various : wondering at my flight and change 

To this high exaltation, suddenly 9° 

My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, 

And fell asleep ; but oh, how glad I waked 

To find this but a dream ! " Thus Eve her night 

Related, and thus Adam answered sad : 

" Best image of myself, and dearer half, 
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep 
Affects me equally ; nor can I like 
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear ; 
Yet evil whence ? in thee can harbor none, 
Created pure. But know that in the soul I0 ° 

Are many lesser faculties, that serve 
Reason as chief; among these, Fancy next 
Her office holds ; of all external things, 
Which the five watchful senses represent, 
She forms imaginations, airy shapes, 
Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames 
All what we affirm or what deny, and call 
Our knowledge or opinion ; then retires 



Il6 PARADISE LOST. 

Into her private cell when Nature rests. 
Oft in her absence mimic Fancy wakes IIQ 

To imitate her \ but, misjoining shapes, 
Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams, 
111 matching words and deeds long past or late. 
Some such resemblances, methinks, I find 
Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, 
But with addition strange ; yet be not sad : 
\ Evil into the mind of God or man 
May come and go, so unapproved, and leave 
No spot or blame behind : which gives me hope 
That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream I2 ° 

Waking thou never wilt consent to do. 
Be not disheartened, then, nor cloud those looks, 
That wont to be more cheerful and serene 
Than when fair morning first smiles on the world ; 
And let us to our fresh employments rise 
Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers 
That open now their choicest bosomed smells, 
Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store." 

So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered, 
But silently a gentle tear let fall J 5° 

From either eye, and wiped them with her hair ; 
Two other precious drops that ready stood, 
Each in their crystal sluice, he, ere they fell, 
Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse 
And pious awe, that feared to have offended. 1 

So all was cleared, and to the field they haste. 
But first, from under shady arborous roof, 
Soon as they forth were come to open sight 
Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up risen, 

1 Milton is as eminent for tenderness as for sublimity. See lines 1-25. 



BOOK V. 117 

With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim, H° 

Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, 

Discovering in wide landscape all the east 

Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains, 

Lowly they bowed adoring, and began 

Their orisons, each morning duly paid 

In various style ; for neither various style 

Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise 

Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced or sung 

Unmeditated ; such prompt eloquence 

Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, I 5° 

More tunable than needed lute or harp 

To add more sweetness ; and they thus began : 

" These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, 
Almighty ! Thine this universal frame, 
Thus wondrous fair ; thyself how wondrous then, 
Unspeakable ! who sitt'st above these heavens, 
To us invisible, or dimly seen 
In these thy lowest works ; yet these declare 
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. 
Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, l6 ° 

Angels ; for ye behold him, and with songs 
And choral symphonies, day without night, 
Circle his throne rejoicing ; ye in Heaven, 
On earth join all ye creatures to extol 
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. 
Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, 
If better thou belong not to the dawn, 
Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn . 
With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, 
While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. J 7° 

Thou sun, of this great world both eye and soul, 



Il8 PARADISE LOST. 

Acknowledge him thy greater, sound his praise 

In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st, 

And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fall'st. 

Moon, that now meet'st the orient sun, now fliest, 

With the fixed stars, fixed in their orb that flies. 

And ye five other wandering fires that move 

In mystic dance not without song, resound 

His praise, who out of darkness called up light. 

Air, and ye elements, the eldest birth l8 ° 

Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run 

Perpetual circle, multiform ; and mix 

And nourish all things ; let your ceaseless change 

Vary to our great Maker still new praise. 

Ye mists and exhalations that now rise 

From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, 

Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, 

In honor to the world's great Author rise, 

Whether to deck with clouds the uncolored sky, 

Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, *9o 

Rising or falling still advance his praise. 

His praise, ye winds, that from four quarters blow, 

Breathe soft or loud ; and wave your tops, ye pines, 

With every plant, in sign of worship wave. 

Fountains, and ye that warble as ye flow 

Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. 

Join voices, all ye living souls ; ye birds, 

That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend, 

Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise. 

Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk 20 ° 

The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep ; 

Witness if I be silent, morn or even, 

To hill or valley, fountain or fresh shade, 



BOOK V. 119 

Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise. 
Hail, universal Lord ! be bounteous still 
To give us only good ; and if the night 
Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, 
Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark." 

So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts 
Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. 2I ° 

On to their morning's rural work they haste, 
Among sweet dews and flowers ; where any row 
Of fruit-trees, over-woody, reached too far 
Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check 
Fruitless embraces : or they led the vine 
To wed her elm ; she, spoused, about him twines 
Her marriageable arms, and with her brings 
Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn 
His barren leaves. Them thus employed beheld 
With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called 220 
Raphael, the sociable spirit, that deigned 
To travel with Tobias, and secured 
His marriage with the seven-times-wedded maid. 

" Raphael," said he, " thou hear'st what stir on earth 
Satan, from Hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf, 
Hath raised in Paradise, and how disturbed 
This night the human pair ; how he designs 
In them at once to ruin all mankind. 
{ Go, therefore, half this day, as friend with friend 
I Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade 2 3° 

Thou find'st him from the heat of noon retired, 
To respite his day-labor with repast, 
Or with repose ; and such discourse bring on, 
As may advise him of his happy state, 
Happiness in his power left free to will, 



120 PARADISE LOST. 

Left to his own free will, his will though free, 

Yet mutable : whence warn him to beware 

He swerve not, too secure : tell him withal 

His danger, and from whom ; what enemy, 

Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting now 2 4° 

The fall of others from like state of bliss ; 

By violence ? no, for that shall be withstood ; 

But by deceit and lies : this let him know, 

Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend 

Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned." 

So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled 
All justice : nor delayed the winged saint 
After his charge received ; but from among 
Thousand celestial ardors, where he stood 
Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light 2 5° 
Flew through the midst of Heaven ; the angelic choirs, 
On each hand parting, to his speed gave way 
Through all the empyreal road ; till at the gate 
Of Heaven arrived, the gate self- opened wide 
On golden hinges turning, as by work 
Divine the sov'reign Architect had framed. 
From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, 
Star interposed, however small, he sees, 
Not unconform to other shining globes, 
Earth and the garden of God, with cedars crowned 26 ° 
Above all hills. As when by night the glass 
Of Galileo, less assured, observes 
Imagined lands and regions in the moon : 
Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades 
Delos or Samos first appearing, kens 
A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight 
He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky 



BOOK V. 121 

Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing, 

Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan 

Winnows the buxom air ; till, within soar 2 7° 

Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems 

A phoenix, gazed by all, as that sole bird, 

When, to enshrine his relics in the sun's 

Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. 

At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise 

He lights, and to his proper shape returns 

A seraph winged : six wings he wore, to shade 

His lineaments divine ; the pair that clad 

Each shoulder broad came mantling o'er his breast 

With regal ornament ; the middle pair 28 ° 

Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round 

Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold, 

And colors dipped in Heaven ; the third his feet 

Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, 

Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood, 

And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled 

The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands 

Of angels under watch ; and to his state, 

And to his message high, in honor rise ; 

For on some message high they guessed him bound. 2 9° 

Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come 

Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, 

And flowering odors, cassia, nard, and balm ; 

A wilderness of sweets ; for Nature here 

Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will 

Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, 

Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. 

Him through the spicy forest onward come, 

Adam discerned, as in the door he sat 



122 PARADISE LOST. 

Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun 3 00 

Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm 

Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs : 

And Eve within, due at her hour, prepared 

For dinner savory fruits, of taste to please 

True appetite, and not disrelish thirst 

Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, 

Berry or grape : to whom thus Adam called : 

" Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold 
Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape 
Comes this way moving ; seems another morn 3 IQ 

Risen on mid-noon ; some great behest from Heaven 
To us, perhaps, he brings, and will vouchsafe 
This day to be our guest. But go with speed, 
And what thy stores contain bring forth, and pour 
Abundance, fit to honor and receive 
Our heavenly stranger : well we may afford 
Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow 
From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies 
Her fertile growth, and by disburdening grows 
More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare." 3 2 ° 

To whom thus Eve : "Adam, earth's hallowed mould, 
Of God inspired, small store will serve, where store, 
All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk ; 
Save what by frugal storing firmness gains 
To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes : 
But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, 
Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice 
To entertain our angel-guest, as he 
Beholding shall confess, that here on earth 
God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven." 33° 

So saying, with despatchful looks in haste 



BOOK V. 123 

She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent 

What choice to choose for delicacy best, 

What order, so contrived as not to mix 

Tastes not well joined, inelegant, but bring 

Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change ; 

Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk 

Whatever earth, all-bearing mother, yields 

In India East or West, or middle shore 

In Pontus, or the Punic coast, or where 34° 

Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat 

Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, 

She gathers, tribute large, and on the board 

Heaps with unsparing hand ; for drink, the grape 

She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths 

From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed 

She tempers dulcet creams ; nor these to hold 

Wants her fit vessels pure ; then strews the ground 

With rose and odors from the shrub unfumed. 

Meanwhile our primitive great sire, to meet 35° 

His godlike guest, walks forth, without more train 
Accompanied than with his own complete 
Perfections; in himself was all his state, 
More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits 
On princes, when their rich retinue long 
Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold, 
Dazzles the crowd, and sets them all agape. 
Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed, 
Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, 
As to a superior nature, bowing low, 3 6 ° 

Thus said : " Native of Heaven, for other place 
None can, than Heaven, such glorious shape contain ; 
Since, by descending from the thrones above, 



124 PARADISE LOST. 

Those happy places thou hast deigned awhile 

To want, and honor these, vouchsafe with us 

Two only, who yet by sovereign gift possess 

This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower 

To rest, and what the garden choicest bears 

To sit and taste, till this meridian heat 

Be over, and the sun more cool decline. " 2>7° 

Whom thus the angelic virtue answered mild : 
" Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou such 
Created, or such place hast here to dwell, 
As may not oft invite, though spirits of Heaven, 
To visit thee ; lead on, then, where thy bower 
O'ershades ; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, 
I have at will." So to the sylvan lodge 
They came, that like Pomona's arbor smiled, 
With flowerets decked and fragrant smells ; but Eve, 
Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair 3 8 ° 

Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feigned 
Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, 
Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven ; no veil 
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm 
Altered her cheek. On whom the angel " Hail ! " 
Bestowed, the holy salutation used 
Long after to blest Mary, second Eve : 

" Hail, mother of mankind ! whose fruitful womb 
Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, 
Than with these various fruits the trees of God 39° 
Have heaped this table." Raised of grassy turf 
Their table was, and mossy seats had round, 
And on her ample square, from side to side, 
All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here 
Danced hand in hand. A while discourse they hold, 



BOOK V. 125 

No fear lest dinner cool ; when thus began 

Our author : " Heavenly stranger, please to taste 

These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom 

All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, 

To us for food and for delight hath caused 4°o 

The earth to yield : unsavory food, perhaps, 

To spiritual natures ; only this I know, 

That one celestial Father gives to all." 

To whom the angel : " Therefore, what he gives 
(Whose praise be ever sung) to man, in part 
Spiritual, may of purest spirits be found 
No ingrateful food : and food alike those pure 
Intelligential substances require, 
As doth your rational ; and both contain 
Within them every lower faculty 4 IQ 

Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, 
Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, 
And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 
For know, whatever was created, needs 
To be sustained and fed ; of elements 
The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, 
Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires 
Ethereal, and, as lowest, first the moon ; 
Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged 
Vapors not yet into her substance turned. 4 2 ° 

Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale 
From her moist continent to higher orbs. 
The sun, that light imparts to all, receives 
From all his alimental recompense 
In humid exhalations, and at even 
Sups with the ocean. Though in Heaven the trees 
Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines 



126 PARADISE LOST. 

Yield nectar ; though from off the boughs each morn 
We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground 
Covered with pearly grain : yet God hath here 43° 
Varied his bounty so with new delights, 
As may compare with Heaven ; and to taste, 
Think not I shall be nice." So down they sat, 
And to their viands fell ; nor seemingly 
The angel, nor in mist, the common gloss 
Of theologians ; but with keen despatch 
Of real hunger, and concoctive heat 
To transubstantiate : what redounds, transpires 
Through spirits with ease ; nor wonder, if by fire 
Of sooty coal the empiric alchemist 44° 

Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, 
Metals or drossiest ore to perfect gold, 
As from the mine. Meanwhile at table, Eve 
Ministered naked, and their flowing cups 
With pleasant liquors crowned : O innocence 
Deserving Paradise ! If ever, then, 
Then had the sons of God excuse to have been 
Enamored at that sight ; but in those hearts 
Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy 
Was understood, the injured lover's hell 45° 

Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, 
Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose 
In Adam not to let the occasion pass, 
Given him by this great conference, to know 
Of things above his world, and of their being 
Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw 
Transcend his own so far, whose radiant forms, 
Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far 
Exceeded human ; and his wary speech 



BOOK V. 127 

Thus to the empyreal minister he framed : 4 6 ° 

" Inhabitant with God, now know I well 
Thy favor, in this honor done to man, 
Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed 
To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, 
Food not of angels, yet accepted so, 
As that more willingly thou couldst not seem 
At Heaven's high feasts to have fed : yet what compare?" 

To whom the winged hierarch replied : 
" O Adam, One Almighty is, from whom 
All things proceed, and up to him return, 47° 

If not depraved from good, created all 
Such to perfection, one first matter all, 
Endued with various forms, various degrees 
Of substance, and, in things that live, of life ; 
But more refined, more spirituous, and pure, 
As nearer to him placed or nearer tending, 
Each in their several active spheres assigned, 
Till body up to spirit work, in bounds 
Proportioned to each kind. So from the root 
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 
More airy, last the bright consummate flower 481 

Spirits odorous breathes : flowers and their fruit, 
Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed, 
To vital spirits aspire, to animal, 
To intellectual ; give both life and sense, 
Fancy and understanding .; whence the soul 
Reason receives, and reason is her being, 
Discursive, or intuitive ; discourse 
Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, 
Differing but in degree, of kind the same. 49° 

Wonder not, then, what God for you saw good, 



128 



PARADISE LOST. 



If I refuse not, but convert, as you, 

To proper substance : time may come, when men 

With angels may participate, and find 

No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare ; 

And from these corporal nutriments, perhaps, 

Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, 

Improved by tract of time, and winged ascend 

Ethereal, as we ; or may, at choice, 

Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell ; 5 0C 

If ye be found obedient, and retain 

Unalterably firm his love entire, 

Whose progeny you are. Meanwhile, enjoy 

Your fill what happiness this happy state 

Can comprehend, incapable of more." 

To whom the patriarch of mankind replied : 
" O favorable spirit, propitious guest, 
Well hast thou taught the way that might direct 
Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set 
From centre to circumference, whereon, 5 t0 

In contemplation of created things, 
By steps we may ascend to God. But say, 
What meant that caution joined, ' If ye be found 
Obedient ' ? Can we want obedience then 
To him, or possibly his love desert, 
Who formed us from the dust, and placed us here, 
Full to the utmost measure of what bliss 
Human desires can seek or apprehend?'' 

To whom the angel : " Son of Heaven and earth, 
Attend : that thou art happy, owe to God ; 
That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, 
That is, to thy obedience ; therein stand. 
This was that caution given thee ; be advised. 



BOOK V. 129 

God made thee perfect, not immutable ; 
And good he made thee, but to persevere 
He left it in thy power ; ordained thy will, 
By nature free, not over-ruled by fate 
Inextricable, or strict necessity : 
Our voluntary service he requires, 
Not our necessitated ; such with him 53° 

Finds no acceptance, nor can find ; for how 
Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve 
Willing or no, who will but what they must 
By destiny, and can no other choose ? 
Myself, and all the angelic host, that stand 
In sight of God enthroned, our happy state 
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds ; 
On other surety none : freely we serve, 
Because we freely love, as in our will 
To love or not ; in this we stand or fall : 54° 

And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen, 
And so from Heaven to deepest Hell ; O fall 
From what high state of bliss, into what woe ! " 
To whom our great progenitor : " Thy words 
Attentive, and with more delighted ear, 
Divine instructor, I have heard, than when 
Cherubic songs by night from neighboring hills 
Aerial music send : nor knew I not 
To be both will and deed created free ; 
Yet that we never shall forget to love 55° 

Our Maker, and obey him, whose command 
Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts 
Assured me, and still assure ; though what thou telFst 
Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move, 
But more desire to hear, if thou consent, 



I30 PARADISE LOST. 

The full relation, which must needs be strange, 
Worthy of sacred silence to be heard ; 
And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun 
Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins 
His other half in the great zone of Heaven." 5 6 ° 

Thus Adam made request ; and Raphael, 
After short pause assenting, thus began : 

" High matter thou enjoin'st me, O prime of men, 
Sad task and hard ; for how shall I relate 
To human sense the invisible exploits 
Of warring spirits? how, without remorse, 
The ruin of so many glorious once 
And perfect while they stood ? how last unfold 
The secrets of another world, perhaps 
Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good 57° 

This is dispensed ; and what surmounts the reach 
Of human sense, I shall delineate so, 
But likening spiritual to corporal forms, 
As may express them best ; though what if earth 
Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein 
Each to other like, more than on earth is thought ? 

" As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild 
Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where earth 

now rests 
Upon her centre poised ; when on a day 
(For time, though in eternity, applied 5 8 ° 

To motion, measures all things durable 
By present, past, and future), on such day 
As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyreal host 
Of angels, by imperial summons called, 
Innumerable before the Almighty's throne 
Forthwith from all the ends of Heaven appeared 



BOOK V. 131 

Under their hierarchs in orders bright ; 

Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, 

Standards and gonfalons twixt van and rear 

Stream in the air, and for distinction serve 59° 

Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees ; 

Or in their glittering tissues bear emblazed 

Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love 

Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs 

Of circuit inexpressible they stood, 

Orb within orb, the Father infinite, 

By whom in bliss embosomed sat the Son, 

Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top 

Brightness had made invisible, thus spake : 

" ' Hear all ye angels, progeny of light, 6o ° 

Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, 
Here my decree, which unrevoked shall stand. 
This day I have begot whom I declare 
My only Son, and on this holy hill 
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold 
At my right hand ; your head I him appoint ; 
And by myself have sworn to him shall bow 
All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord : 
Under his great vicegerent reign abide 
United as one individual soul, 610 

Forever happy : him who disobeys, 
Me disobeys, break union, and that day, 
Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls 
In utter darkness, deep engulfed, his place 
Ordained without redemption, without end/ 

" So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words 
All seemed well pleased : all seemed, but were not all. 
That day, as other solemn days, they spent 



132 PARADISE LOST. 

In song and dance about the sacred hill ; 

Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere 62 ° 

Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels 

Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, 

Eccentric, intervolved, yet regular 

Then most, when most irregular they seem ; 

And in their motions harmony divine 

So smoothes her charming tones, that God's own ear 

Listens delighted. Evening now approached 

(For we have also our evening and our morn, 

We ours for change delectable, not need) ; 

Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn 6 3° 

Desirous : all in circles as they stood, 

Tables are set, and on a sudden piled 

With angels' food, and rubied nectar flows 

In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, 

Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 

On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned, 

They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet 

Quaff immortality and joy, secure 

Of surfeit where full measure only bounds 

Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who showered 6 4° 

With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. 

Now when ambrosial night, with clouds exhaled 

From that high mount of God, whence light and shade 

Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed 

To grateful twilight (for night comes not there 

In darker veil) , and roseate dews disposed 

All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest ; 

Wide over all the plain, and wider far 

Than all this globous earth in plain outspread 

(Such are the courts of God), the angelic throng, 6 5° 



book r. 133 

Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend 

By living streams among the trees of life, 

Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared, 

Celestial tabernacles, where they slept, 

Fanned with cool winds ; save those who in their course 

Melodious hymns about the sovereign throne 

Alternate all night long : but not so waked 

Satan ; so call him now, his former name 

Is heard no more in Heaven ; he of the first, 

If not the first archangel, great in power, 66 ° 

In favor and pre-eminence, yet fraught 

With envy against the Son of God, that day 

Honored by his great Father, and proclaimed 

Messiah King anointed, could not bear 

Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired. 

Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, 

Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour 

Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved 

With all his legions to dislodge, and leave 

Unworshipped, unobeyed, the throne supreme, 6 7° 

Contemptuous ; and his next subordinate 

Awakening, thus to him in secret spake : 

" ' Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can 
close 
Thy eyelids, and remember'st what decree 
Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips 
Of Heaven's Almighty? Thou to me thy thoughts 
Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart ; 
Both waking we were one ; how then can now 
Thy sleep dissent ? New laws thou seest imposed ; 
New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise 6So 
In us who serve, new counsels, to debate 



134 PARADISE LOST. 

What doubtful may ensue : more in this place 

To utter is not safe. Assemble thou 

Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; 

Tell them that by command, ere yet dim night 

Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, 

And all who under me their banners wave, 

Homeward with flying march where we possess 

The quarters of the north ; there to prepare 

Fit entertainment to receive our King, 690 

The great Messiah, and his new commands, 

Who speedily through all the hierarchies 

Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.' 

" So spake the false archangel, and infused 
Bad influence into the unwary breast 
Of his associate : he together calls, 
Or several one by one, the regent powers, 
Under him regent ; tells, as he was taught, 
That the Most High commanding, now ere night, 
Now ere dim night had disencumbered Heaven, 1°° 
The great hierarchal standard was to move ; 
Tells the suggested cause, and casts between 
Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 
Or taint integrity : but all obeyed 
The wonted signal, and superior voice 
Of their great potentate ; for great indeed 
His name, and high was his degree in Heaven ; 
His countenance, as the morning- star that guides 
The starry flock, allured them, and with lies 
Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. 7 10 
Meanwhile the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns 
Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, 
And from within the golden lamps that burn 



BOOK V. 135 

Nightly before him, saw without their light 
Rebellion rising ; saw in whom, how spread 
Among the sons of morn, what multitudes 
Were banded to oppose his high decree ; 
And, smiling, to his only Son thus said : 

" ' Son, thou in whom my glory I behold 
In full resplendence, heir of all my might, 720 

Nearly it now concerns us to be sure 
Of our omnipotence, and with what arms 
We mean to hold what anciently we claim 
Of deity or empire ; such a foe 
Is rising, who intends to erect his throne 
Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north ; 
Nor so content, hath in his thought to try, 
In battle, what our power is, or our right. 
Let us advise, and to this hazard draw 
With speed what force is left, and all employ 73° 

In our defence, lest unawares we lose 
This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.' 

" To whom the Son, with calm aspect and clear, 
Lightning divine, ineffable, serene, 
Made answer : ' Mighty Father, thou thy foes 
Justly hast in derision, and secure 
Laugh'st at their vain designs and tumults vain, 
Matter to me of glory, whom their hate 
Illustrates, when they see all regal power 
Given me to quell their pride, and in event 74° 

Know whether I be dexterous to subdue 
Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.' 

" So spake the Son ; but Satan with his powers 
Far was advanced on winged speed, a host 
Innumerable as the stars of night, 



136 PARADISE LOST. 

Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun 

Impearls on every leaf and every flower. 

Regions they passed, the mighty regencies 

Of seraphim, and potentates, and thrones, 

In their triple degrees ; regions to which 75° 

All thy dominion, Adam, is no more 

Than what this garden is to all the earth, 

And all the sea, from one entire globose 

Stretched into longitude ; which have passed, 

At length into the limits of the north 

They came, and Satan to his royal seat, 

High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount 

Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers 

From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold ; 

The palace of great Lucifer (so call 760 

That structure in the dialect of men 

Interpreted) , which not long after, he 

Affecting all equality with God, 

In imitation of that mount whereon 

Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, 

The Mountain of the Congregation called ; 

For thither he assembled all his train, 

Pretending so commanded to consult 

About the great reception of their King 

Thither to come, and with calumnious art 770 

Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears : 

" ' Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, 
If these magnific titles yet remain 
Not merely titular, since by decree 
Another now hath to himself engrossed 
All power, and us eclipsed, under the name 
Of King anointed, for whom all this haste 



BOOK V. 137 

Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here 

This only to consult how may we best, 

With what may be devised of honors new, 780 

Receive him coming to receive from us 

Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile, 

Too much to one, but double how endured, 

To one and to his image now proclaimed? 

But what if better counsels might erect 

Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke ? 

Will ye submit your necks and choose to bend 

The supple knee ? Ye will not if I trust 

To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves, 

Natives and sons of Heaven, possessed before 79° 

By none, and if not equal all, yet free, 

Equally free ; for orders and degrees 

Jar not with liberty, but well consist. 

Who can in reason then, or right, assume 

Monarchy over such as live by right 

His equals, if in power and splendor less, 

In freedom equal? or can introduce 

Law and edict on us, who, without law, 

Err not ? much less for this to be our Lord, 

And look for adoration, to the abuse 8°° 

Of those imperial titles, which assert 

Our being ordained to govern, not to serve/ 

" Thus far his bold discourse without control 
Had audience, when among the seraphim 
Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored 
The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, 
Stood up, and, in a flame of zeal severe, 
The current of his fury thus opposed : 

" ' Oh, argument blasphemous, false, and proud ! 



138 PARADISE LOST. 

Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven 8l ° 

Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate, 

In place thyself so high above thy peers. 

Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn 

The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn, 

That to his only Son, by right endued 

With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven 

Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due 

Confess him rightful King,? unjust, thou say'st, 

Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, 

And equal over equals to let reign, 82 ° 

One over all with unsucceeded power. 

Shalt thou give law to God ? shalt thou dispute 

With him the points of liberty, who made 

Thee what thou art, and formed the powers of Heaven 

Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being? 

Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, 

And of our good and of our dignity 

How provident he is, how far from thought 

To make us less, bent rather to exalt 

Our happy state under one head more near 8 3° 

United. But to grant it thee unjust, 

That equal over equals monarch reign : 

Thyself, thou great and glorious, dost thou count, 

Or all angelic nature joined in one, 

Equal to him begotten Son ? by whom, 

As by his word, the mighty Father made 

All things, even thee ; and all the spirits of Heaven 

By him created in their bright degrees, 

Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named 

Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, 8 4° 

Essential powers ; nor by his reign obscured, 



BOOK V. 139 

But more illustrious made ; since he, the head, 
One of our number thus reduced becomes ; 
His laws our laws ; all honor to him done 
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, 
And tempt not these, but hasten to appease 
The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, 
While pardon may be found in time besought.' 

" So spake the fervent angel ; but his zeal 
None seconded, as out of season judged, 8 5° 

Or singular and rash ; whereat rejoiced 
The apostate, and more haughty thus replied : 

"'That we were formed then, say'st thou? and the 
work 
Of secondary hands, by task transferred 
From Father to his Son ? strange point and new ! 
Doctrine which we would know whence learned : who 

saw 
When this creation was ? remember'st thou 
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? 
We know no time when we were not as now ; 
Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised 860 

By our own quickening power, when fatal course 
Had circled his full orb, the birth mature 
Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. 
Our puissance is our own ; our own right hand 
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try 
Who is our equal : then thou shalt behold 
Whether by supplication we intend 
Address, and to begird the almighty throne 
Beseeching or besieging. This report, 
These tidings carry to the anointed King ; 870 

And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.' 



I40 PARADISE LOST. 

" He said, and, as the sound of waters deep, 
Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause 
Through the infinite host ; nor less for that 
The flaming seraph fearless, though alone, 
Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold : 

" ' O alienate from God, O spirit accursed, 
Forsaken of all good ! I see thy fall 
Determined, and thy hapless crew involved 
In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread 88 ° 

Both of thy crime and punishment : henceforth 
No more be troubled how to quit the yoke 
Of God's Messiah ; those indulgent laws 
Will not be now vouchsafed ; other decrees 
Against thee are gone forth without recall ; 
That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject, 
Is now an iron rod to bruise and break 
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise ; 
Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly 
These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath 890 

Impendent, raging into sudden flame, 
Distinguish not ; for soon expect to feel 
His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. 
Then who created thee lamenting learn, 
When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.' 

" So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found 
Among the faithless, faithful only he ; 
Among innumerable false, unmoved, 
Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, 
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal ; 9°o 

Nor number, nor example, with him wrought 
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, 



BOOK V. 141 

Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, 

Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained 

Superior, nor of violence feared aught ; 

And with retorted scorn his back he turned 

On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. 



142 PARADISE LOST. 



BOOK VI. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were sent 
forth to battle against Satan and his angels. The first fight described : 
Satan and his powers retire under night : he calls a council, invents 
devilish engines, which, in the second day's fight, put Michael and his 
angels to some disorder; but they at length, pulling up mountains, 
overwhelmed both the force and machines of Satan : yet the tumult 
not so ending, God on the third day sends Messiah his Son, for whom 
he had reserved the glory of that victory : he, in the power of his 
Father, coming to the place, and causing all his legions to stand still 
on either side, with his chariot and thunder driving into the midst of 
his enemies, pursues them, unable to resist, towards the wall of 
Heaven ; which opening, they leap down with horror and confusion 
into the place of punishment prepared for them in the deep : Messiah 
returns with triumph to his Father. 

" All night the dreadless angel, unpursued, 

Through Heaven's wide champaign held his way; till 

Morn, 
Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand 
.Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave 
Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, 
Where light and darkness in perpetual round 
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through 

Heaven 
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night ; 
Light issues forth, and at the other door 
Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour IO 

To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well 
Seem twilight here : and now went forth the morn, 



BOOK VI. 143 

Such as in highest Heaven, arrayed in gold 
Empyreal ; from before her vanished Night, 
Shot through with orient beams ; when all the plain, 
Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, 
Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, 
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view : 
War he perceived, war in procinct, and found 
Already known what he for news had thought 20 

To have reported : gladly then he mixed 
Among those friendly powers, who him received 
With joy and acclamations loud, that one, 
That of so many myriads fallen, yet one 
Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill 
They led him high applauded, and present 
Before the seat supreme ; from whence a voice, 
From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard : 

" ' Servant of God, well done ! well hast thou fought 
The better fight, who single hast maintained 3° 

Against revolted multitudes the cause 
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms ; 
And for the testimony of truth hast borne 
Universal reproach, far worse to bear 
Than violence ; for this was all thy care, 
To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds 
Judged thee perverse : the easier conquest now 
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, 
Back on thy foes more glorious to return 
Than scorned thou didst depart ; and to subdue 4° 
By force, who reason for their law refuse ; 
Right reason for their law, and for their King 
Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. 
Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, 



144 PARADISE LOST. 

And thou in military prowess next, 

Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons 

Invincible, lead forth my armed saints 

By thousands and by millions ranged for fight, 

Equal in number to that godless crew 

Rebellious ; them with fire and hostile arms 5° 

Fearless assault, and, to the brow of Heaven 

Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss 

Into their place of punishment, the gulf 

Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide 

His fiery chaos to receive their fall/ 

" So spake the sovereign voice, and clouds began 
To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll 
In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign 
Of wrath awaked ; nor with less dread the loud 
Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow : 60 

At which command the powers militant, 
That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined 
Of union irresistible, moved on 
In silence their bright legions, to the sound 
Of instrumental harmony that breathed 
Heroic ardor to adventurous deeds 
Under their godlike leaders, in the cause 
Of God and his Messiah. On they move 
Indissolubly firm ; nor obvious hill, 
Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides 1° 
Their perfect ranks ; for high above the ground 
Their march was, and the passive air upbore 
Their nimble tread : as when the total kind 
Of birds, in orderly array on wing, 
Came summoned over Eden to receive 
Their names of thee ; so over many a tract 



BOOK VI. I45 

Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, 

Tenfold the length of this terrene : at last, 

Far in the horizon to the north appeared, 

From skirt to skirt, a fiery region, stretched 8o 

In battailous aspect, and nearer view 

Bristled with upright beams innumerable 

Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields 

Various, with boastful argument portrayed, 

The banded powers of Satan hasting on 

With furious expedition ; for they weened 

That self-same day by fight, or by surprise, 

To win the mount of God, and on his throne 

To set the envier of his state, the proud 

Aspirer ; but their thoughts proved fond and vain 9° 

In the midway : though strange to us it seemed 

At first, that angel should with angel war, 

And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet 

So oft in festivals of joy and love 

Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, 

Hymning the eternal Father. But the shout 

Of battle now began, and rushing sound 

Of onset ended soon each milder thought. 

High in the midst, exalted as a god, 

The apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, 100 

Idol of majesty divine, enclosed 

With flaming cherubim and golden shields ; 

Then lighted from his gorgeous throne ; for now, 

'Twixt host and host, but narrow space was left, 

A ? dreadful interval, and front to front 

Presented stood in terrible array 

Of hideous length : before the cloudy van, 

On the rough edge of battle ere it joined, 



I46 PARADISE LOST. 

Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, 
Came towering, armed in adamant and gold ; "o 

Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood 
Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, 
And thus his own undaunted heart explores : 

" ' O Heaven ! that such resemblance of the Highest 
Should yet remain, where faith and realty 
Remain not : wherefore should not strength and might 
There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove 
Where boldest, though to sight unconquerable ? 
His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, 
I mean to try, whose reason I have tried I2 ° 

Unsound and false ; nor is it aught but just, 
That he, who in debate of truth hath won, 
Should win in arms, in both disputes alike 
Victor ; though brutish that contest and foul, 
When reason hath to deal with force, yet so 
Most reason is that reason overcome.' 

" So pondering, and from his armed peers 
Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met 
His daring foe, at this prevention more 
Incensed, and thus securely him defied : J 3° 

" ' Proud, art thou met ? thy hope was to have reached 
The height of thy aspiring unopposed, 
The throne of God unguarded, and his side 
Abandoned, at the terror of thy power 
Or potent tongue : fool ! not to think how vain 
Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms ; 
Who out of smallest things could without end 
Have raised incessant armies to defeat 
Thy folly ; or with solitary hand, 
Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow J 4° 






BOOK VL 147 

Unaided could have finished thee, and whelmed 

Thy legions under darkness : but thou seest 

All are not of thy train ; there be who faith 

Prefer, and piety to God, though then 

To thee not visible, when I alone 

Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent 

From all : my sect thou seest ; now learn too late 

How few sometimes may know, when thousands err.' 

" Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, 
Thus answered : ' 111 for thee, but in wished hour I S° 
Of my revenge, first sought for, thou return'st 
From flight, seditious angel ! to receive 
Thy merited reward, the first assay 
Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, 
Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose 
A third part of the gods, in synod met 
Their deities to assert ; who, while they feel 
Vigor divine within them, can allow 
Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest 
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win J 6o 

From me some plume, that thy success may show 
Destruction to the rest : this pause between 
(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know 
At first I thought that liberty and Heaven 
To heavenly souls had been all one ; but now 
I see that most through sloth had rather serve, 
Minist'ring spirits, trained up in feast and song ; 
Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven, 
Servility with freedom to contend, 
As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.' 1 7° 

" To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied : 
I Apostate ! still thou err'st, nor end wilt find 



148 PARADISE LOST, 

Of erring, from the path of truth remote : 
Unjustly thou depravest it with the name 
Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, 
Or Nature ; God and Nature bid the same, 
When he who rules is worthiest, and excels 
Them whom he governs. This is servitude, 
To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled 
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, l8 ° 

Thyself not free, but to thyself in thralled ; 
Yet lewdly darest our ministering upbraid. 
Reign thou in Hell thy kingdom ; let me serve 
In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine 
Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed ; 
Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect : meanwhile 
From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight, 
This greeting on thy impious crest receive. ' 
" So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, 
Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell 1 9° 

On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, 
Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, 
Such ruin intercept : ten paces huge 
He back recoiled ; the tenth on bended knee 
His massy spear upstayed ; as if on earth 
Winds under ground, or waters forcing way, 
Sidelong, had pushed a mountain from his seat, 
Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seized 
The rebel thrones, but greater rage, to see 
Thus foiled their mightiest ; ours joy filled, and shout, 200 
Presage of victory, and fierce desire 
Of battle : whereat Michael bid sound 
The Archangel trumpet : through the vast of Heaven 
It sounded, and the faithful armies rung 



BOOK VI. 149 

Hosanna to the Highest ; nor stood at gaze 

The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined 

The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, 

And clamor such as heard in Heaven till now 

Was never ; arms on armor clashing brayed 

Horrible discord, and the madding wheels 2I0 

Of brazen chariots raged ; dire was the noise 

Of conflict ; overhead the dismal hiss 

Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew, 

And flying vaulted either host with fire. 

So under fiery cope together rushed 

Both battles main, with ruinous assault 

And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven 

Resounded, and, had earth been then, all earth 

Had to her centre shook. What wonder, when 

Millions of fierce encountering angels fought 22 ° 

On either side, the least of whom could wield 

These elements, and arm him with the force 

Of all their regions ? How much more of power, 

Army against army numberless to raise 

Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, 

Though not destroy, their happy native seat ; 

Had not the eternal King omnipotent, 

From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled 

And limited their might ; though numbered such 

As each divided legion might have seemed 2 3° 

A numerous host ■ in strength each armed hand 

A legion \ led in fight, yet leader seemed 

Each warrior, single as in chief, expert 

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway 

Of battle, open when, and when to close 

The ridges of grim war : no thought of flight, 



I50 PARADISE LOST. 

None of retreat, no unbecoming deed 

That argued fear ; each on himself relied, 

As only in his arm the moment lay 

Of victory. Deeds of eternal fame 2 4° 

Were done, but infinite ; for wide was spread 

That war, and various ; sometimes on firm ground 

A standing fight, then soaring on main wing 

Tormented all the air ; all air seemed then 

Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale 

The battle hung ; till Satan, who that day 

Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms 

No equal, ranging through the dire attack 

Of fighting seraphim confused, at length 

Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled 2 5° 

Squadrons at once ; with huge two-handed sway 

Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down 

Wide wasting : such destruction to withstand 

He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb 

Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, 

A vast circumference. At his approach 

The great archangel from his warlike toil 

Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end 

Intestine war in Heaven, the arch foe subdued, 

Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown 26 ° 

And visage all inflamed, first thus began : 

" ' Author of evil unknown till thy revolt, 
Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous, as thou seest 
These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, 
Though heaviest by just measure on thyself 
And thy adherents : how hast thou disturbed 
Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought 
Misery, uncreated till the crime 



BOOK VI. 151 

Of thy rebellion ! how hast thou instilled 

Thy malice into thousands once upright 2 7° 

And faithful, now proved false ! But think not here 

To trouble holy rest ; Heaven casts thee out 

From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss, 

Brooks not the works of violence and war. 

Hence, then, and evil go with thee along, 

Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell, 

Thou and thy wicked crew ; there mingle broils, 

Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, 

Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, 

Precipitate thee with augmented pain.' 28 ° 

" So spake the prince of angels ; to whom thus 
The adversary : c Nor think thou with wind 
Of airy threats to awe whom yet with deeds 
Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these 
To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise 
Unvanquished, easier to transact with me 
That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats 
To chase me hence ? Err not that so shall end 
The strife which thou call'st evil, but we style 
The strife of glory ; which we mean to win, 2 9° 

Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell 
Thou fablest ; here, however, to dwell free, 
If not to reign : meanwhile thy utmost force, 
And join him named Almighty to thy aid ; 
I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.' 

" They ended parle, and both addressed for fight 
Unspeakable : for who, though with the tongue 
Of angels, can relate, or to what things 
Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift 
Human imagination to such height 3 00 



152 PARADISE LOST. 

Of godlike power ? for likest gods they seemed, 

Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms, 

Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. 

Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air 

Made horrid circles ; two broad suns their shields 

Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood 

In horror : from each hand with speed retired, 

Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng, 

And left large field, unsafe within the wind 

Of such commotion ; such as (to set forth 3 10 

Great things by small) if, nature's concord broke, 

Among the constellations war were sprung, 

Two planets, rushing from aspect malign 

Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky 

Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. 

Together both, with next to almighty arm, 

Uplifted imminent ; one stroke they aimed 

That might determine, and not need repeat, 

As not of power at once ; nor odds appeared 

In might or swift prevention : but the sword 3 2 ° 

Of Michael, from the armory of God, 

Was given him tempered so, that neither keen 

Nor solid might resist that edge : it met 

The sword of Satan with steep force to smite 

Descending, and in half cut sheer ; nor stayed, 

But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared 

All his right side : then Satan first knew pain, 

And writhed him to and fro convolved ; so sore 

The griding sword with discontinuous wound 

Passed through him ; but the ethereal substance closed, 

Not long divisible, and from the gash 33 1 

A stream of nectarous humor issuing flowed 



BOOK VI. 153 

Sanguine, such as celestial spirits may bleed, 

And all his armor stained, erewhile so bright. 

Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run 

By angels many and strong, who interposed 

Defence, while others bore him on their shields 

Back to his chariot, where it stood retired 

From off the files of war : there they him laid, 

Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame, 34° 

To find himself not matchless, and his pride 

Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath 

His confidence to equal God in power. 

Yet soon he healed ; for spirits that live throughout 

Vital in every part, not as frail man 

In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins, 

Cannot but by annihilating die ; 

Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound 

Receive, no more than can the fluid air. 

All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, 35° 

All intellect, all sense ; and, as they please, 

They limb themselves, and color, shape, or size 

Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare. 

" Meanwhile in other parts, like deeds deserved 
Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, 
And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array 
Of Moloch, furious king, who him defied, 
And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound 
Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven 
Refrained his tongue blasphemous, but anon, 3 6 ° 

Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms 
And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing 
Uriel and Raphael, his vaunting foe, 
Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed, 



154 PARADISE LOST. 

Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai, 

Two potent thrones, that to be less than gods 

Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight, 

Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. 

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy 

The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow 37° 

Ariel and Arioch, and the violence 

Of Ramiel, scorched and blasted, overthrew. 

I might relate of thousands, and their names 

Eternize here on earth ; but those elect 

Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, 

Seek not the praise of men : the other sort, 

In might though wondrous, and in acts of war, 

Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom 

Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, 

Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 3 8 ° 

For strength from truth divided, and from just, 

Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise 

And ignominy ; yet to glory aspires 

Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame : 

Therefore eternal silence be their doom. 

"And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, 
With many an inroad gored ; deformed rout 
Entered, and foul disorder ; all the ground 
With shivered armor strown, and on a heap 
Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, 39<> 

And fiery foaming steeds ; what stood, recoiled 
O'er- wearied, through the faint Satanic host, 
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, 
Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, 
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought 
By sin of disobedience, till that hour 



BOOK VI 155 

Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. 

Far otherwise the inviolable saints, 

In cubic phalanx firm advanced entire, 

Invulnerable, impenetrably armed ; 4°° 

Such high advantages their innocence 

Gave them above their foes, not to have sinned, 

Not to have disobeyed ; in fight they stood 

Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained 

By wound, though from their place by violence moved. 

" Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven 
Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed, 
And silence on the odious din of war ; 
Under her cloudy covert both retired, 
Victor and vanquished : on the foughten field 4 IQ 

Michael and his angels prevalent 
Encamping, placed in guard their watches round, 
Cherubic waving fires : on the other part 
Satan with his rebellious disappeared, 
Far in the dark dislodged ; and, void of rest, 
His potentates to council called by night ; 
And in the midst thus undismayed began : 

" ' O now in danger tried, now known in arms 
Not to be overpowered, companions dear, 
Found worthy not of liberty alone, 4 2 ° 

Too mean pretence, but what we more affect, 
Honor, dominion, glory, and renown ; 
Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight 
(And if one day, why not eternal days ?) 
What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send 
Against us from about his throne, and judged 
Sufficient to subdue us to his will, 
But proves not so : then fallible, it seems, 



156 PARADISE LOST. 

Of future we may deem him, though till now 

Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed, 43° 

Some disadvantage we endured, and pain, 

Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned ; 

Since now we find this our empyreal form 

Incapable of mortal injury, 

Imperishable, and though pierced with wound, 

Soon closing, and by native vigor healed. 

Of evil then so small as easy think 

The remedy ; perhaps more valid arms, 

Weapons more violent, when next we meet, 

May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 44° 

Or equal what between us made the odds, 

In nature none : if other hidden cause 

Left them superior, while we can preserve 

Unhurt our minds and understanding sound, 

Due search and consultation will disclose. ' 

" He sat : and in the assembly next upstood 
Nisroch, of principalities the prime ; 
As one he stood escaped from cruel fight, 
Sore toiled, his riven arms to havoc hewn, 
And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake : 45° 

" ' Deliverer from new lords, leader to free 
Enjoyment of our right as gods ; yet hard 
For gods, and too unequal work we find, 
Against unequal arms to fight in pain, 
Against unpained, impassive ; from which evil 
Ruin must needs ensue ; for what avails 
Valor or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain 
Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands 
Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well 
Spare out of life, perhaps, and not repine, 460 



BOOK VI 157 

But live content, which is the calmest life : 
But pain is perfect misery, the worst 
Of evils, and, excessive, overturns 
All patience. He who therefore can invent 
With what more forcible we may offend 
Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm 
Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves 
No less than for deliverance what we owe.' 

" Whereto, with look composed, Satan replied : 
' Not uninvented that, which thou aright 47° 

Believest so main to our success, I bring. 
Which of us who beholds the bright surface 
Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, 
This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned 
With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold ; 
Whose eye so s superficially surveys 
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow 
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, 
Of spirituous and fiery spume, till touched 
With Heaven's ray, and tempered, they shoot forth 4 8 ° 
So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? 
These in their dark nativity the deep 
Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame ; 
Which into hollow engines long and round 
Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire 
Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth 
From far, with thundering noise, among our foes 
Such implements of mischief, as shall dash 
To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands 
Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed 49° 

The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. 
Nor longer shall be our labor ; yet, ere dawn, 



158 



PARADISE LOST. 



Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive ; 
Abandon fear ; to strength and counsel joined 
Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired.* 

" He ended, and his words their drooping cheer 
Enlightened, and their languished hope revived. 
The invention all admired, and each, how he 
To be the inventor missed ; so easy it seemed 
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought 
Impossible : yet haply of thy race 5 QI 

In future days, if malice should abound, 
Some one intent on mischief, or inspired 
With devilish machination, might devise 
Like instrument to plague the sons of men 
For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. 
Forthwith from council to the work they flew ; 
None arguing stood ; innumerable hands 
Were ready ; in a moment up they turned 
Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath 5 10 

The originals of nature in their crude 
Conception ; sulphurous and nitrous foam 
They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art, 
Concocted and adjusted, they reduced 
To blackest grain, and into store conveyed : 
Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth 
Entrails unlike ^ of mineral and stone, 
Whereof to found their engines and their balls 
Of missive ruin ; part incentive reed 
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 5 20 

So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, 
Secret they finished, and in order set, 
With silent circumspection, unespied. 

" Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared, 



BOOK vi. 159 

Up rose the victor angels, and to arms 

The matin trumpet sung : in arms they stood 

Of golden panoply, refulgent host, 

Soon banded ; others from the dawning hills 

Looked round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, 

Each quarter, to descry the distant foe, 53° 

Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, 

In motion or in halt : him soon they meet 

Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow 

But firm battalion ; back with speediest sail 

Zophiel, of cherubim the swiftest wing, 

Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried : 

" ' Arm, warriors, arm for fight ! the foe at hand, 
Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit 
This day ; fear not his flight ; so thick a cloud 
He comes, and settled in his face I see 54° 

Sad resolution, and secure : let each 
His adamantine coat gird well, and each 
Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, 
Borne even or high ; for this day will pour down, 
If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, 
But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.' 

" So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon 
In order, quit of all impediment, 
Instant, without disturb, they took alarm, 
And onward moved embattled : when, behold, 55° 

Not distant far, with heavy pace, the foe 
Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube 
Training his devilish enginery, impaled 
On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, 
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood 
Awhile ; but suddenly at head appeared 



l6o PARADISE LOST. 

Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud : 

" i Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold ; 
That all may see who hate us, how we seek 
Peace and composure, and with open breast 5 6 ° 

Stand ready to receive them, if they like 
Our overture, and turn not back perverse ; 
But. that I doubt ; however, witness Heaven, 
Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge 
Freely our part ; ye who appointed stand, 
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch 
What we propound, and loud, that all may hear. 7 

" So scoffing, in ambiguous words, he scarce 
Had ended, when to right and left the front 
Divided, and to either flank retired : 57° 

Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange, 
A triple mounted row of pillars laid 
On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed, 
Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir, 
With branches lopped, in wood or mountain felled) ; 
Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths 
With hideous orifice gaped on us wide, 
Portending hollow truce ; at each behind 
A seraph stood, and in his hand a reed 
Stood waving, tipped with fire ; while we, suspense, 5 8 ° 
Collected stood within our thoughts amused, 
Not long ; for sudden all at once their reeds 
Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied 
With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, 
But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared, 
From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar 
Embowelled with outrageous noise the air, 
And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul 



BOOK VI, l6l 

Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail 

Of iron globes ; which, on the victor host 59° 

Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote, 

That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, 

Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell 

By thousands, angel on archangel rolled, 

The sooner for their arms : unarmed they might 

Have easily, as spirits, evaded swift 

By quick contraction or remove ; but now 

Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout ; 

Nor served it to relax their serried files. 

What should they do ? if on they rushed, repulse 6o ° 

Repeated, and indecent overthrow 

Doubled, would render them yet more despised, 

And to their foes a laughter ; for in view 

Stood ranked of seraphim another row, 

In posture to displode their second tire 

Of thunder : back defeated to return 

They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight, 

And to his mates thus in derision called : 

" ' O friends ! why come not on these victors proud ? 
Erewhile they fierce were coming * and when we 6l ° 
To entertain them fair with open front 
And breast (what could we more?) propounded terms 
Of composition, straight they changed their minds, 
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, 
As they would dance ; yet for a dance they seemed 
Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps 
For joy of offered peace : but I suppose, 
If our proposals once again were heard, 
We should compel them to a quick result.' 

"To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood : 62 ° 



1 62 PARADISE LOST. 

' Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight, 
Of hard contents, and full of force urged home, 
Such as we might perceive amused them all, 
And stumbled many ; who receives them right 
Had need from head to foot well understand ; 
Not understood, this gift they have besides, 
They show us when our foes walk not upright.' 

" So they among themselves, in pleasant vein, 
Stood scoffing, heightened in their thoughts beyond 
All doubt of victory ; Eternal Might 6 3° 

To match with their inventions they presumed 
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn, 
And all his host derided, while they stood 
Awhile in trouble : but they stood not long ; 
Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms 
Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. 
Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, 
Which God hath in his mighty angels placed !) 
Their arms away they threw, and to the hills 
(For earth hath this variety from Heaven 6 4° 

Of pleasure situate in hill and dale) 
Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew ; 
From their foundations loosening to and fro 
They plucked the seated hills, with all their load, 
Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops 
Uplifting bore them in their hands : amaze, 
Be sure, and terror, seized the rebel host, 
When coming towards them so dread they saw 
The bottom of the mountains upward turned ; 
Till on those cursed engines' triple row 6 5° 

They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence 
Under the weight of mountains buried deep ; 



BOOK VI. 163 

Themselves invaded next, and on their heads 

Main promontories flung, which in the air 

Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed ; 

Their armor helped their harm, crushed in and bruised 

Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain 

Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, 

Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind 

Out of such prison, though spirits of purest light, 66 ° 

Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. 

The rest in imitation to like arms 

Betook them, and the neighboring hills uptore ; 

So hills amid the air encountered hills, 

Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire, 

That under ground they fought in dismal shade ; 

Infernal noise ! war seemed a civil game 

To this uproar ; horrid confusion heaped 

Upon confusion rose : and now all Heaven 

Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread, 6 7° 

Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits 

Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, 

Consulting on the sum. of things, foreseen 

This tumult, and permitted all, advised : 

That his great purpose he might so fulfil, 

To honor his anointed Son avenged 

Upon his enemies, and to declare 

All power on him transferred : whence to his Son, 

The assessor of his throne, he thus began : 

" ' Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved, 68 ° 

Son in whose face invisible is beheld 
Visibly what by deity I am, 
And in whose hand what by decree I do, 
Second Omnipotence ! two days are past, 



164 PARADISE, LOST. 

Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, 

Since Michael and his powers went forth to tame 

These disobedient : sore hath been their fight, 

As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed ; 

For to themselves I left them ; and thou know'st 

Equal in their creation they were formed, 6 9° 

Save what sin hath impaired, which yet hath wrought 

Insensibly, for I suspend their doom ; 

Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last 

Endless, and no solution will be found : 

War wearied hath performed what war can do, 

And to disordered rage let loose the reins, 

With mountains as with weapons armed, which makes 

Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. 

Two days are therefore past, the third is thine ; 

For thee I have ordained it, and thus far 7°° 

Have suffered, that the glory may be thine 

Of ending this great war, since none but thou 

Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace 

Immense I have transfused, that all may know 

In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare ; 

And, this perverse commotion governed thus, 

To manifest thee worthiest to be heir 

Of all things, to be heir and to be King 

By sacred unction, thy deserved right. 

Go then, thou mightiest, in thy Father's might, 710 

Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels 

That shake Heaven's basis, bring forth all my war, 

My bow and thunder, my almighty arms 

Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh ; 

Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out 

From all Heaven's bounds into the utter deep ; 



BOOK VI. 165 

There let them learn, as likes them, to despise 

God, and Messiah his anointed King.' 

" He said, and on his Son with fays direct 

Shone full ; he all his Father full expressed 7 2 ° 

Ineffably into his face received ; 

And thus the filial Godhead answering spake : 
" < O Father, O supreme of heavenly thrones, 

First, highest, holiest, best ! thou always seek'st 

To glorify thy Son, I always thee, 

As is most just ; this I my glory account, / 

My exaltation, and my whole delight, 

That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will 

Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. 

Sceptre and power, thy giving, I assume, 73° 

J And gladlier shall resign, when in the end 
J Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee 
* Forever, and in me all whom thou lovest : 

But whom thou hatest I hate, and can put on 

Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on, 

Image of thee in all things ; and shall soon, 

Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled, 

To their prepared ill mansion driven down, 

To chains of darkness, and the undying worm, 

That from thy just obedience could revolt, 74° 

Whom to obey is happiness entire. 

Then shall thy saints unmixed, and from the impure 

Far separate, circling thy holy mount, 

Unfeigned hallelujahs to thee sing, 

Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief.' 
" So said, he, o'er his sceptre bowing, rose 

From the right hand of glory where he sat ; 

And the third sacred morn began to shine, 



I 66 PARADISE LOST. 

Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with whirl- 
wind sound 
The chariot of paternal Deity, 75° 

Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, 
Itself instinct with spirit, but convoyed 
By four cherubic shapes ; four faces each 
Had wondrous ; as with stars, their bodies all 
And wings were set with eyes ; with eyes the wheels 
Of beryl, and careering fires between ; 
Over their heads a crystal firmament, 
Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure 
Amber, and colors of the showery arch. 
He, in celestial panoply all armed 1 6 ° 

Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, 
Ascended ; at his right hand Victory 
Sat eagle-winged ; beside him hung his bow 
And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored, 
And from about him fierce effusion rolled 
Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire : 
Attended with ten thousand thousand saints, 
He onward came ; far off his coming shone ; 
And twenty thousand (I their number heard) 
Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen : 11° 
He on the wings of cherub rode sublime 
On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned, 
Illustrious far and wide, but by his own 
First seen ; them unexpected joy surprised, 
When the great ensign of Messiah blazed 
Aloft by angels borne, his sign in Heaven ; 
Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced 
His army, circumfused on either wing, 
Under their Head embodied all in one. 



BOOK VI. 167 

Before him power Divine his way prepared ; 780 

At his command the uprooted hills retired 
Each to his place ; they heard his voice, and went 
Obsequious ; Heaven his wonted face renewed, 
And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. 

This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured, 
And to rebellious fight rallied their powers 
Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. 
In heavenly spirits could such perverseness dwell? 
But to convince the proud what signs avail, 
Or wonders move the obdurate to relent ? 79° 

They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, 
Grieving to see his glory, at the sight 
Took envy ; and, aspiring to his height, 
Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud 
Weening to prosper, and at length prevail 
Against God and Messiah, or to fall 
In universal ruin last ; and now 
To final battle drew, disdaining flight, 
Or faint retreat ; when the great Son of God 
To all his host 0*1 either hand thus spake : 8o ° 

" ' Stand still in bright array, ye saints ; here stand, 
Ye angels armed ; this day from battle rest : 
Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God 
Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause ; 
And as ye have received, so have ye done, 
Invincibly : but of this cursed crew 
The punishment to other hand belongs ; 
Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints : 
I Number to this day's work is not ordained, 
Nor multitude ; stand only and behold 8to 

God's indignation on these godless poured 



1 68 PARADISE LOST. 

By me ; not you, but me, they have despised, 

Yet envied ; against me is all their rage, 

Because the Father, to whom in Heaven supreme 

Kingdom, and power, and glory, appertains, 

Hath honored me according to his will. 

Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned, 

That they may have their wish, to try with me 

In battle which the stronger proves, they all, 

Or I alone against them, since by strength 820 

They measure all, of other excellence 

Not emulous, nor care who them excels ; 

Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe.' 

" So spake the Son, and into terror changed 
His countenance too severe to be beheld, 
And full of wrath bent on his enemies. 
At once the four spread out their starry wings 
With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs 
Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound 
Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. 8 3° 

He on his impious foes right onward drove, 
Gloomy as night ; under his burning wheels 
The steadfast empyrean shook throughout, 
All but the throne itself of God. Full soon 
Among them he arrived ; in his right hand 
Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent 
Before him, such as in their souls infixed 
Plagues : they, astonished, all resistance lost, 
All courage ; down their idle weapons dropped ; 
O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode 8 4° 
Of thrones and mighty seraphim prostrate, 
That wished the mountains now might be again 
Thrown 01} them as a shelter from his ire. 



BOOK VI 169 

Nor less on either side tempestuous fell 

His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged four 

Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels 

Distinct alike with multitude of eyes ; 

One spirit in them ruled, and every eye 

Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire 

Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, 8 5° 

And of their wonted vigor left them drained, 

Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. 

Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked 

His thunder in mid volley ; for he meant 

Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven : 

The overthrown he raised, and, as a herd 

Of goats or timorous flock together thronged, 

Drove them before him thunderstruck, pursued 

With terrors and with furies to the bounds 

And crystal wall of Heaven ; which, opening wide, 86 ° 

Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed 

Into the wasteful deep : the monstrous sight 

i Struck them with horror backward, but far worse 
Urged them behind : headlong themselves they threw 
Down from the verge of Heaven ; eternal wrath 
Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. 

" Hell heard the unsurTerable noise ; Hell saw 
Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled 
Affrighted ; but strict Fate had cast too deep 
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 8 7° 

I Nine days they fell : confounded Chaos roared, 
And felt tenfold confusion in their fall 
Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout 
Encumbered him with ruin : Hell at last 
Yawning received them whole, and on them closed ; 



170 PARADISE LOST, 

Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire 

Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. 

Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired 

Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. 

Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes, 88 ° 

Messiah his triumphal chariot turned : 

To meet him all his saints, who silent stood 

Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, 

With jubilee advanced ; and as they went, 

Shaded with branching palm, each order bright 

Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, 

Son, Heir, and Lord to him dominion given, 

Worthiest to reign : he celebrated rode 

Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts 

And temple of his mighty Father throned 8 9° 

On high ; who into glory him received, 

Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. 

"Thus measuring things in Heaven by things on 
earth, 
At thy request, and that thou mayst beware 
By what is past, to thee I have revealed 
What might have else to human race been hid ; 
The discord which befell, and war in Heaven 
Among the angelic powers, and the deep fall 
Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled 
With Satan ; he who envies now thy state, 9°° 

Who now is plotting how he may seduce 
Thee also from obedience, that with him 
Bereaved of happiness thou mayst partake 
His punishment, eternal misery ; 
Which would be all his solace and revenge, 
As a despite done against the Most High, 



BOOK VI 171 

Thee once to gain companion of his woe. 

But listen not to his temptations j warn 

Thy weaker ; let it profit thee to have heard 

By terrible example the reward 9 10 

Of disobedience ; firm they might have stood, 

Yet fell ; remember, and fear to transgress. " 



172 PARADISE LOST. 



BOOK VII. 
THE ARGUMENT. 

Raphael, at the request of Adam, relates how and wherefore this 
world was first created ; that God, after the expelling of Satan and 
his angels out of Heaven, declared his pleasure to create another 
world, and other creatures to dwell therein ; sends his Son with glory, 
and attendance of angels, to perform the work of creation in six days ; 
the angels celebrate with hymns the performance thereof, and his 
re-ascension into Heaven. 

[Adam, having asked Raphael how the earth came to be 
created, received for answer : — ] 

" Know, then, that after Lucifer from Heaven 
(So call him, brighter once amidst the host 
Of angels, than that star the stars among) 
Fell with his flaming legions through the deep 
Into his place, and the great Son returned 
Victorious with his saints, the omnipotent 
Eternal Father from his throne beheld 
Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake : 

" c At least our envious foe hath failed, who thought 
All like himself rebellious, by whose aid J 4° 

This inaccessible high strength, the seat 
Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed, 
He trusted to have seized, and into fraud 
Drew many, whom their place knows here no more ; 
Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, 
Their station ; Heaven yet populous retains 
Number sufficient to possess her realms 



BOOK VII 173 

Though wide, and this high temple to frequent 

With ministries due and solemn rites : 

But lest his heart exalt him in the harm 1 S° 

Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, 

My damage fondly deemed, I can repair 

That detriment, if such it be to lose 

Self-lost, and in a moment will create 

Another world, out of one man a race 

Of men innumerable, there to dwell, 

Not here, till by degrees of merit raised 

They open to themselves at length the way 

Up hither, under long obedience tried, 

And earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, 

One kingdom, joy and union without end. l61 

Meanwhile inhabit lax, ye powers of Heaven ; 

And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee 

This I perform ; speak thou, and be it done : 

My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee 

I send along ; ride forth, and bid the deep 

Within appointed bounds be Heaven and earth ; 

Boundless the deep, because I Am who fill 

Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. 

Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire, 170 

And put not forth my goodness, which is free 

To act or not, necessity and chance 

Approach not me, and what I will is fate/ 

..." Meanwhile the Son 
On his great expedition now appeared, 
Girt with omnipotence, with radiance crowned 
Of majesty divine ; sapience and love 
Immense, and all his Father in him shone. 
About his chariot numberless were poured 



174 PARADISE LOST. 

Cherub and seraph, potentates and thrones, 

And virtues, winged spirits, and chariots winged 

From the armory of God, where stand of old 200 

Myriads between two brazen mountains lodged 

Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand, 

Celestial equipage ; and now came forth 

Spontaneous, for within them spirit lived, 

Attendant on their Lord : Heaven opened wide 

Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound, 

On golden hinges moving, to let forth 

The King of Glory, in his powerful Word 

And Spirit coming to create new worlds. 

On heavenly ground they stood, and from the shore 2I ° 

They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss 

Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, 

Up from the bottom turned by furious winds 

And surging waves, as mountains, to assault 

Heaven's height, and with the centre mix the pole. 

" ' Silence, ye troubled waves, and thou deep, peace/ 
Said then the omnific Word : ' your discord end ! ' 
Nor stayed, but on the wings of cherubim 
Uplifted, in paternal glory rode 

Far into Chaos, and the world unborn ; 22 ° 

For Chaos heard his voice : him all his train 
Followed in bright procession, to behold 
Creation, and the wonders of his might. 
Then stayed the fervid wheels, and in his hand 
He took the golden compasses, prepared 
In God's eternal store, to circumscribe 
This universe, and all created things : 
One foot he centred, and the other turned 
Round through the vast profundity obscure, 



I 



BOOK VII 175 

And said : ' Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, 2 3° 
This be thy just circumference, O world.' 
Thus God the Heaven created, thus the earth, 
Matter unformed and void : darkness profound 
Covered the abyss ; but on the watery calm 
His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, 
And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth 
Throughout the fluid mass, but downward purged 
The black tartareous cold infernal dregs, 
Adverse to life : then founded, then conglobed 
Like things to like ; the rest to several place 2 4° 

Disparted, and between spun out the air, 
And Earth self-balanced on her centre hung. 

" ' Let there be light ! ' said God ; and forthwith light 
Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, 
Sprung from the deep ; and from her native east 
To journey through the airy gloom began, 
Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun 
Was not ; she in a cloudy tabernacle 
Sojourned the while. God saw the light was good, 
And light from darkness by the hemisphere 2 5° 

Divided : light the day, and darkness night, 
He named. Thus was the first day even and morn : 
Nor passed uncelebrated, nor unsung 
By the celestial choirs, when orient light 
Exhaling first from darkness they beheld ; 
Birthday of Heaven and Earth ; with joy and shout 
The hollow universal orb they filled, 
And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised 
God and his works ; Creator him they sung, 
Both when first evening was, and when first morn. 26 ° 

" Again, God said, ' Let there be firmament 



176 PARADISE LOST. 

Amid the waters, and let it divide 

The waters from the waters ! ' and God made 

The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, 

Transparent, elemental air, diffused 

In circuit to the uttermost convex 

Of this great round ; partition firm and sure, 

The waters underneath from those above 

Dividing : for as earth, so he the world 

Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide 2 7<> 

Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule 

Of Chaos far removed, lest fierce extremes 

Contiguous might distemper the whole frame : 

And Heaven he named the firmament : so even 

And morning chorus sung the second day. 

" The earth was formed, but in the womb as yet 
Of waters, embryon immature involved, 
Appeared not : over all the face of earth 
Main ocean flowed, not idle ; but, with warm 
Prolific humor softening all her globe, 28 ° 

Fermented the great mother to conceive, 
Satiate with genial moisture ; when God said, 
' Be gathered now, ye waters under Heaven, 
Into one place, and let dry land appear.' 
Immediately the mountains huge appear 
Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave 
Into the clouds ; their tops ascend the sky : 
So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low 
Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep, 
Capacious bed of waters : thither they 2 9° 

Hasted with glad precipitance, uprolled, 
As drops on dust conglobing from the dry ; 
Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct, 



BOOK VII. 177 

For haste ; such flight the great command impressed 

On the swift floods ; as armies at the call 

Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard) 

Troop to their standard, so the watery throng, 

Wave rolling after wave, where way they found ; 

If steep, with torrent rapture ; if through plain, 

Soft ebbing : nor withstood them rock or hill, 3 00 

But they, or under ground, or circuit wide 

With serpent error wandering, found their way, 

And on the washy ooze deep channels wore ; 

Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry, 

All but within those banks, where rivers now 

Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train. 

The dry land, earth, and the great receptacle 

Of congregated waters he called seas : 

And saw that it was good, and said, l Let the earth 

Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed, 3 10 

And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind, 

Whose seed is in herself upon the earth.' 

He scarce had said, when the bare earth, till then 

Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorned, 

Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad 

Her universal face with pleasant green ; 

Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered, 

Opening their various colors, and made gay 

Her bosom, smelling sweet : and, these scarce blown, 

Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept 3 20 

The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed 

Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub, 

And bush with frizzled hair implicit ; last 

Rose as in dance the stately trees, and spread 

Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed 



178 PARADISE LOST. 

Their blossoms : with high woods the hills were crowned, 
With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side ; 
With borders long the rivers ; that earth now 
Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where gods might dwell 
Or wander with delight, and love to haunt 33° 

Her sacred shades : though God had yet not rained 
Upon the earth, and man to till the ground 
None was ; but from the earth a dewy mist 
Went up and watered all the ground, and each 
Plant of the field, which, ere it was in the earth, 
God made, and every herb, before it grew 
On the green stem : God saw that it was good : 
So even and morn recorded the third day. 

" Again the Almighty spake : ' Let there be lights 
High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide 34° 

The day from night ; and let them be for signs, 
For seasons, and for days, and circling years ; 
And let them be for lights, as I ordain 
Their office in the firmament of Heaven, 
To give light on the earth ; ' and it was so. 
And God made two great lights, great for their use 
To man, the greater to have rule by day, 
The less by night, altern ; and made the stars, 
And set them in the firmament of Heaven 
To illuminate the earth, and rule the day 35° 

In their vicissitude, and rule the night, 
And light from darkness to divide. God saw, 
Surveying his great work, that it was good : 
For of celestial bodies first the sun 
A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first, 
Though of ethereal mould : then formed the moon 
Globose, and every magnitude of stars, 






BOOK VII 179 

And sowed with stars the Heaven thick as a field : 

Of light by far the greater part he took, 

Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed 3 6 ° 

In the sun's orb, made porous to receive 

And drink the liquid light, firm to retain 

Her gathered beams, great palace now of light. 

Hither, as to their fountain, other stars 

Repairing, in their golden urns draw light, 

And hence the morning planet gilds her horns ; 

By tincture or reflection they augment 

Their small peculiar, though from human sight 

So far remote, with diminution seen. 

First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, Z7° 

Regent of day, and all the horizon round 

Invested with bright rays, jocund to run 

His longitude through Heaven's high road ; the gray 

Dawn and the Pleiades before him danced, 

Shedding sweet influence : less bright the moon, 

But opposite in levelled west was set, 

His mirror, with full face borrowing her light 

From him ; for other light she needed none 

In that aspect, and still that distance keeps 

Till night ; then in the east her turn she shines, 3 8 ° 

Revolved on Heaven's great axle, and her reign 

With thousand lesser lights dividual holds, 

With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared 

Spangling the hemisphere : then first adorned 

With their bright luminaries that set and rose, 

Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day. 

" And God said : 6 Let the waters generate 
Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul : 
And let fowl fly above the earth, with wings 



i8o 



PARADISE LOST. 



Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven.' 39° 

And God created the great whales, and each 

Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously 

The waters generated by their kinds ; 

And every bird of wing after his kind ; 

And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying : 

' Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas, 

And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill ; 

And let the fowl be multiplied on the earth.' 

Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay, 

With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals 400 

Of fish that with their fins and shining scales 

Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft 

Bank the mid sea : part single, or with mate, 

Graze the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves 

Of coral stray, or sporting with quick glance 

Show to the sun their waved coats dropped with gold, 

Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend 

Moist nutriment, or under rocks their food 

In jointed armor watch : on smooth the seal 

And bended dolphins play ; part huge of bulk 4 1 © 

Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, 

Tempest the ocean : there leviathan, 

Hugest of living creatures, on the deep 

Stretched like a promontory, sleeps or swims, 

And seems a moving land, and at his gills 

Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea. 

Meanwhile the tepid caves, and fens, and shores, 

Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon 

Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed 

Their callow young ; but feathered soon and fledge, 4 20 

They summed their pens, and, soaring the air sublime, 



BOOK VII. l8l 

With clang despised the ground, under a cloud 

In prospect ; there the eagle and the stork 

On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build : 

Part loosely wing the region, part more wise 

In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way, 

Intelligent of seasons, and set forth 

Their airy caravan, high over seas 

Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing 

Easing their flight ; so steers the prudent crane 43° 

Her annual voyage, borne on winds ; the air 

Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes : 

From branch to branch the smaller birds with song 

Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings 

Till even ; nor then the solemn nightingale 

Ceased warbling, but all night tuned her soft lays : 

Others on silver lakes and rivers bathed 

Their downy breast ; the swan, with arched neck 

Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows 

Her state with oary feet ; yet oft they quit 44° 

The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower 

The mid aerial sky : others on ground 

Walked firm ; the crested cock, whose clarion sounds 

The silent hours, and the other whose gay train 

Adorns him, colored with the florid hue 

Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus 

With fish replenished, and the air with fowl, 

Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day. 

" The sixth, and of creation last, arose 
With evening harps and matin, when God said : 45° 
' Let the earth bring forth soul living in her kind, 
Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the earth, 
Each in their kind.' The earth obeyed, and straight 



1 82 PARADISE LOST. 

Opening her fertile womb, teemed at a birth 

Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, 

Limbed and full grown : out of the ground up rose, 

As from his lair, the wild beast, where he wons 

In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den • 

Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked : 

The cattle in the fields and meadows green : 460 

Those rare and solitary, these in flocks 

Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung. 

The grassy clods now calved ; now half appeared 

The tawny lion, pawning to get free 

His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds, 

And rampart shakes his brinded main ; the ounce, 

The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole 

Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw 

In hillocks : the swift stag from underground 

Bore up his branching head : scarce from his mould 47° 

Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheaved 

His vastness : fleeced the flocks and bleating rose, 

As plants : ambiguous between sea and land 

The river-horse and scaly crocodile. 

At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, 

Insect or worm : those waved their limber fans 

For wings, and smallest lineaments exact 

In all the liveries decked of summer's pride 

With spots of gold and purple, azure and green ; 

These as a line their long dimensions drew, 480 

Streaking the ground with sinuous trace : not all 

Minims of nature ; some of serpent kind, 

Wondrous in length and corpulence, involved 

Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept 

The parsimonious emmet, provident 



BOOK VII 183 

Of future, in small room large heart enclosed ; 

Pattern of just equality perhaps 

Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes 

Of commonalty : swarming next appeared 

The female bee, that feeds her husband drone 49° 

Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells 

With honey stored : the rest are numberless, 

And thou their natures know'st, and gavest them names, 

Needless to thee repeated ; nor unknown 

The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, 

Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes 

And hairy mane terrific, though to thee 

Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. 

" Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled 
Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand 5 00 

First wheeled their course ; Earth in her rich attire 
Consummate lovely smiled ; air, water, earth, 
By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked 
Frequent ; and of the sixth day yet remained : 
There wanted yet the master-work, the end 
Of all yet done ; a creature who, not prone 
And brute as other creatures, but endued 
With sanctity of reason, might erect 
His stature, and upright with front serene 
Govern the rest, self- knowing ; and from thence 5 10 
Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven, 
But grateful to acknowledge whence his good 
Descends ; thither with heart, and voice, and eyes 
Directed in devotion, to adore 
And worship God supreme, who made him chief 
Of all his works : therefore the omnipotent 
Eternal Father (for where is not he 



1 84 PARADISE LOST. 

Present ?) thus to his Son audibly spake : 

" ' Let us make now man in our image, man 
In our similitude, and let them rule 5 2 ° 

Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, 
Beast of the field, and over all the earth, 
And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.' 
This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O man, 
Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed 
The breath of life ; in his own image he 
Created thee, in the image of God 
Express, and thou becamest a living soul. 
Male he created thee, but thy consort 
Female, for race ; then blessed mankind, and said : 53° 
' Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth ; 
Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold 
Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, 
And every living thing that moves on the earth.' 
Wherever thus created, for no place 
Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st, 
He brought thee into this delicious grove, 
This garden, planted with the trees of God, 
Delectable both to behold and taste ; 
And freely all their pleasant fruit for food 54° 

Gave thee ; all sorts are here that all the earth yields, 
Variety without end ; but of the tree 
Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, 
Thou mayst not ; in the day thou eat'st, thou diest ; 
Death is the penalty imposed : beware, 
And govern well thy appetite, lest Sin 
Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. 

" Here finished he, and all that he had made 
Viewed, and behold all was entirely good ; 



BOOK VII. 185 

So even and morn accomplished the sixth day : 55° 

Yet not till the Creator, from his work 

Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, 

Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode, 

Thence to behold this new-created world, 

The addition of his empire, how it showed 

In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, 

Answering his great idea. Up he rode, 

Followed with acclamation, and the sound 

Symphonious of ten thousand harps that tuned 

Angelic harmonies : the earth, the air, 5 6 ° 

Resounded (thou remember'st, for thou heard'st), 

The Heavens and all the constellations rung, 

The planets in their station listening stood, 

While the bright pomp ascended jubilant. 

' Open, ye everlasting gates ! ' they sung ; 

' Open, ye Heavens, your living doors ; let in 

The great Creator from his work returned 

Magnificent, his six days' work, a world ; 

Open, and henceforth oft ; for God will deign 

To visit oft the dwellings of just men 57° 

Delighted, and with frequent intercourse 

Thither will send his winged messengers 

On errands of supernal grace/ So sung 

The glorious train ascending : He through Heaven, 

That opened wide her blazing portals, led 

To God's eternal house direct the way 

A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold, 

And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, 

Seen in the galaxy, that milky way 

Which nightly as a circling zone thou seest 5 8 ° 

Powdered with stars. And now on earth the seventh 



1 86 



PARADISE LOST. 



Evening rose in Eden, for the sun 

Was set, and twilight from the east came on, 

Forerunning night ; when at the holy mount 

Of Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne 

Of Godhead, fixed forever firm and sure, 

The filial Power arrived, and sat him down 

With his great Father ; for he also went 

Invisible, yet stayed (such privilege 

Hath Omnipresence), and the work ordained, 59° 

Author and end of all things ; and, from work 

Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh day, 

As resting on that day from all his work : 

But not in silence holy kept ; the harp 

Had work, and rested not ; the solemn pipe, 

And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, 

All sounds on fret by string or golden wire, 

Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice 

Choral or unison : of incense clouds, 

Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. 6o ° 

Creation and the six days' acts they sung : 

' Great are thy works, Jehovah ! infinite 

Thy power ! what thought can measure thee, or tongue 

Relate thee ? Greater now in thy return 

Than from the giant angels : thee that day 

Thy thunders magnified ; but to create 

Is greater than created to destroy. 

Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound 

Thy empire ? Easily the proud attempt 

Of spirits apostate and their counsels vain 6l <> 

Thou hast repelled, while impiously they thought 

Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw 

The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks 



BOOK VII. 187 

To lessen thee, against his purpose serves 
To manifest the more thy might : his evil 
Thou usest, and from thence createst more good. 
Witness this new-made world, another Heaven 
From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view 
On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea ; 
Of amplitude almost immense, with stars 62 ° 

Numerous, and every star perhaps a world 
Of destined habitation ; but thou know'st 
Their seasons : among these the seat of men, 
Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused, 
Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy men, 
And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanced ! 
Created in his image, there to dwell 
And worship him, and in reward to rule 
Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, 
And multiply a race of worshippers 6 3° 

Holy and just : thrice happy if they know 
Their happiness, and persevere upright ! ' 
" So sung they, and the empyrean rung 
With hallelujahs : thus was sabbath kept. 
And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked 
How first this world and face of things began, 
And what before thy memory was done 
From the beginning, that posterity 
Informed by thee might know : if else thou seek'st 
Aught, not surpassing human measure, say." 6 4° 



1 88 PARADISE LOST. 



BOOK VIII. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Adam inquires concerning celestial motions, is doubtfully an- 
swered, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowl- 
edge. Adam assents, and, still desirous to detain Raphael, relates to 
him what he remembered since his own creation, his placing in Para- 
dise, his talk with God concerning solitude and fit society, his first 
meeting and nuptials with Eve, his discourse with the angel there- 
upon, who, after admonitions repeated, departs. 

The angel ended, and in Adam's ear 
So charming left his voice, that he a while 
Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear ; 
Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied : 

" What thanks sufficient, or what recompense 
Equal, have I to render thee, divine 
Historian, who thus largely hast allayed 
The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed 
This friendly condescension to relate 
Things else by me unsearchable, now heard I0 

With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, 
With glory attributed to the high 
Creator?" . . . 

So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed 
Entering on studious thoughts abstruse, which Eve 4° 
Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight, 
With lowliness majestic from her seat, 
And grace that won who saw to wish her stay, 
Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers, 



BOOK VIIL 189 

To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom, 

Her nursery ; they at her coming sprung, 

And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. 

Yet went she not, as not with such discourse 

Delighted, or not capable her ear 

Of what was high : such pleasure she reserved, 5° 

Adam relating, she sole auditress ; 

Her husband the relater she preferred 

Before the angel, and of him to ask 

Chose rather ; he, she knew, would intermix 

Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute 

With conjugal caresses ; from his lip 

Not words alone pleased her. Oh ! when meet now 

Such pairs, in love and mutual honor joined ? 

With goddess-like demeanor forth she went 

Not unattended, for on her as queen 6o 

A pomp of winning Graces waited still, 

And from about her shot darts of desire 

Into all eyes to wish her still in sight. 

. . . And thus our sire : 
" For man to tell how human life began 2 5° 

Is hard ; for who himself beginning knew ? 
Desire with thee still longer to converse 
Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep, 
Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid 
In balmy sweat, which with his beams the sun 
Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. 
Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned, 
And gazed a while the ample sky ; till, raised 
By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, 
As thitherward endeavoring, and upright 2 6o 

Stood on my feet : about me round I saw 



I90 PARADISE LOST. 

Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, 

x\nd liquid lapse of murmuring streams ; by these 

Creatures that lived and moved, and walked or flew, 

Birds on the branches warbling ; all things smiled ; 

With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed. 

Myself I then perused, and limb by limb 

Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran 

With supple joints, as lively vigor led : 

But who I was, or where, or from what cause, 2 7° 

Knew not ; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake ; 

My tongue obeyed, and readily could name 

Whate'er I saw. ' Thou sun,' said I, ' fair light, 

And thou enlightened earth, so fresh and gay, 

Ye hills and dales, ye rivers, woods, and plains, 

And ye that live and move, fair creatures, tell, 

Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here ? 

Not of myself; by some great Maker, then, 

In goodness and in power pre-eminent : 

Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, 28 ° 

From whom I have that thus I move and live, 

And feel that I am happier than I know? ' 

While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither, 

From where I first drew air, and first beheld 

This happy light, when answer none returned, 

On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, 

Pensive I sat me down ; there gentle sleep 

First found me, and with soft oppression seized 

My drowsied sense, untroubled, though I thought 

I then was passing to my former state 2 9° 

Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve : 

When suddenly stood at my head a dream, 

Whose inward apparition gently moved 



BOOK VIII. 191 

My fancy to believe I yet had being, 

And lived : One came, methought, of shape divine, 

And said, ' Thy mansion wants thee, Adam ; rise, 

First man, of men innumerable ordained 

First father ! called by thee, I come thy guide 

To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.' 

So saying, by the hand he took me raised, 3 00 

And over fields and waters, as in air 

Smooth sliding without step, last led me up 

A woody mountain, whose high top was plain, 

A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees 

Planted, with walks and bowers, that what I saw 

Of earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree 

Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to the eye 

Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite 

To pluck and eat ; whereat I waked, and found 

Before mine eyes all real, as the dream 3 10 

Had lively shadowed : here had new begun 

My wandering, had not he, who was my guide 

Up hither, from among the trees appeared, 

Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, 

In adoration at his feet I fell 

Submiss : he reared me, and ' Whom thou sought'st I 

am,' 
Said mildly, ' Author of all this thou seest 
Above, or round about thee, or beneath. 
This Paradise I give thee ; count it thine 
To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat : 3 20 

Of every tree that in the garden grows 
Eat freely with glad heart ; fear here no dearth : 
But of the tree whose operation brings 
Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set 



I92 PARADISE LOST. 

The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, 

Amid the garden by the tree of life, 

Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste, 1 

And shun the bitter consequence : for know, 

The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command 

Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die, 33° 

From that day mortal ; and this happy state 

Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world 

Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounced 

The rigid interdiction, which resounds 

Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice 

Not to incur ; but soon his clear aspect 

Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed : 

* Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth, 

To thee and to thy race I give ; as lords 

Possess it, and all things that therein live, 34° 

Or live in sea, or air ; beast, fish, and fowl. 

[Adam having named all the beasts, and not finding a help- 
meet for himself, asked of the Almighty Father a fit companion.] 

" ' Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased ; 
And find thee knowing not of beasts alone, 
Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself; 
Expressing well the spirit within thee free, 44° 

My image, not imparted to the brute : 
Whose fellowship therefore, unmeet for thee, 
Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike ; 
And be so minded still : I, ere thou spakest, 
Knew it not good for man to be alone, 
And no such company as then thou saw'st 
Intended thee ; for trial only brought, 

1 The pledge of obedience, a mere negative. 



BOOK VIII. I93 

To see how thou couldst judge of fit and meet : 
What next I bring shall please thee, be assured, 
Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, 45° 

Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.' 

" He ended, or I heard no more, for now 
My earthly by his heavenly overpowered, 
Which it had long stood under, strained to the height 
In that celestial colloquy sublime, 
As with an object that excels the sense 
Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair 
Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called 
By nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes. 
Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell 4 6 ° 

Of fancy, my internal sight, by which, 
Abstract as in a trance, me thought I saw, 
Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape 
Still glorious before whom awake I stood ; 
Who, stooping, opened my left side, and took 
From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, 
And life-blood streaming fresh : wide was the wound, 
But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed : 
The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands ; 
Under his forming hands a creature grew, 47° 

Manlike, but different sex ; so lovely fair, 
That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now 
Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained, 
And in her looks, which from that time infused 
Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, 
And into all things from her air inspired 
The spirit of love and amorous delight. 
She disappeared, and left me dark ; I waked 
To find her, or forever to deplore 



194 PARADISE LOST. 

Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure. 4 8 ° 

When out of hope, behold her, not far off, 

Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned 

With what all earth or Heaven could bestow 

To make her amiable. On she came, 

Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, 

And guided by his voice ; nor uninformed 

Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites : 

Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, 

In every gesture dignity and love. 

I, overjoyed, could not forbear aloud : 49© 

" ' This turn hath made amends : thou hast fulfilled 
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, 
Giver of all things fair ! but fairest this 
Of all thy gifts ! nor enviest. I now see 
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself 
Before me : woman is her name, of man 
Extracted ; for this cause he shall forego 
Father and mother, and to his wife adhere ; 
And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.' 

" She heard me thus, and though divinely brought, 5°° 
Yet innocence and virgin modesty, 
Her virtue and the conscience of her worth, 
That would be wooed, and not unsought be won, 
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retired, 
The more desirable ; or, to say all, 
Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, 
Wrought in her so, that seeing me she turned : 
I followed her ; she what was honor knew, 
And with obsequious majesty approved 
My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower 5 10 

I led her blushing like the morn : all Heaven 



BOOK VIIL 195 

And happy constellations on that hour 

Shed their selectest influence ; the earth 

Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill ; 

Joyous the birds ; fresh gales and gentle airs 

Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings 

Flung rose, flung odors from the spicy shrub, 

Disporting, till the amorous bird of night 

Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening star 

On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. 5 2 ° 

" Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought 
My story to the sum of earthly bliss 
Which I enjoy, and must confess to find 
In all things else delight indeed, but such 
As, used or not, works in the mind no change, 
Nor vehement desire : these delicacies 
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, 
Walks, and the melody of birds : but here 
Far otherwise, transported I behold, 
Transported touch ; here passion first I felt, 53° 

Commotion strange ! in all enjoyments else 
Superior and unmoved, here only weak 
Against the charm of beauty's powerful glance. 
Or nature failed in me, and left some part 
Not proof enough such object to sustain ; 
Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps 
More than enough ; at least, on her bestowed 
Too much of ornament, in outward show 
Elaborate, of inward less exact. 

For well I understand in the prime end 54° 

Of nature her the inferior, in the mind 
And inward faculties, which most excel ; 
In outward also her resembling less 



196 PARADISE LOST. 

His image who made both, and less expressing 

The character of that dominion given 

O'er other creatures : yet when I approach 

Her loveliness, so absolute she seems, 

And in herself complete, so well to know 

Her own, that what she wills to do or say 

Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best ; 55° 

All higher knowledge in her presence falls 

Degraded ; Wisdom in discourse with her 

Loses discountenanced, and like folly shows ; 

Authority and Reason on her wait, 

As one intended first, not after made 

Occasionally ; and, to consummate all, 

Greatness of mind and nobleness their seat 

Build in her loveliest, and create an awe 

About her, as a guard angelic placed.' ' 

[Being thus rapturously in love himself at first sight, he asks 
Raphael : — ] 

" Love not the heavenly spirits ? and how their love 
Express they ? by looks only ? or do they mix 
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?" 

To whom the angel, with a smile that glowed 
Celestial rosy red, love's proper hue, 
Answered : " Let it suffice thee that thou know'st 62 ° 
Us happy, and without love no happiness. 
Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy 'st 
(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy 
In eminence, and obstacle find none 
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars ; 
Easier than air with air, if spirits embrace, 
Total they mix, union of pure with pure 



BOOK VIII. 197 

Desiring ; nor restrained conveyance need, 

As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. 

But I can now no more ; the parting sun 6 3° 

Beyond the earth's green cape and verdant isles 

Hesperian sets, my signal to depart. 

Be strong, live happy, and love, but first of all 

Him whom to love is to obey, and keep 

His great command ; take heed lest passion sway 

Thy judgment to do aught which else free will 

Would not admit : thine and of all thy sons 

The weal or woe in thee is placed : beware ! 

I in thy persevering shall rejoice, 

And all the blest : stand fast ; to stand or fall 6 4° 

Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. 

Perfect within, no outward aid require ; 

And all temptation to transgress repel." 

So saying, he arose ; whom Adam thus 
Followed with benediction : " Since to part, 
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger, 
Sent from whose sovereign goodness I adore. 
Gentle to me and affable hath been 
Thy condescension, and shall be honored ever 
With grateful memory : thou to mankind 6 5° 

Be good and friendly still, and oft return." 

So parted they : the angel up to Heaven 
From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower. 



198 PARADISE LOST. 



BOOK IX. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Satan, having compassed the earth, with meditated guile returns 
as a mist by night into Paradise; enters into the serpent sleeping. 
Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labors, which Eve 
proposes to divide in several places, each laboring apart : Adam con- 
sents not, alleging the danger lest that enemy, of whom they were 
forewarned, should attempt her found alone : Eve, loath to be thought 
not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather 
desirous to make trial of her strength ; Adam at last yields. The 
serpent finds her alone ; his subtle approach, first gazing, then speak- 
ing, with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, 
wondering to hear the serpent speak, asks how he attained to human 
speech and such understanding not till now ; the serpent answers, 
that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he attained both to 
speech and reason, till then void of both ; Eve requires him to bring 
her to that tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden : 
the serpent, now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments 
induces her at length to eat ; she, pleased with the taste, deliberates 
a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not ; at last brings him 
of the fruit ; relates what persuaded her to eat thereof ; Adam, at first 
amazed, but perceiving her lost, resolves, through vehemence of love, 
to perish with her; and, extenuating the trespass, eats also of the 
fruit : the effects thereof in them both ; they seek to cover their naked- 
ness ; then fall to variance and accusation of one another. 

No more of talk where God or angel guest 
With man, as with his friend, familiar used 
To sit indulgent, and with him partake 
Rural repast, permitting him the while 
Venial discourse unblamed : 1 now must change 
Those notes to tragic ; foul distrust, and breach 
Disloyal on the part of man, revolt, 



BOOK IX. 199 

And disobedience : on the part of Heaven 

Now alienated, distance and distaste, 

Anger and just rebuke, and judgment given, IO 

That brought into this world a world of woe, 

Sin and her shadow Death, and misery, 

Death's harbinger : sad task ! . . . 

The sun was sunk, and after him the star 
Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring 
Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter 5° 

'Twixt day and night, and now from end to end 
Night's hemisphere had veiled the horizon round : 
When Satan, who late fled before the threats 
Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improved 
In meditated fraud and malice, bent 
On man's destruction, maugre what might hap 
Of heavier on himself, fearless returned. 
By night he fled, and at midnight returned 
From compassing the earth, cautious of day, 
Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried 60 

His entrance, and forewarned the cherubim 
That kept their watch ; thence full of anguish driven, 
The space of seven continued nights he rode 
With darkness ; thrice the equinoctial line 
He circled ; four times crossed the car of night 
From pole to pole, traversing each colure ; 
On the eighth returned, and on the coast averse 
From entrance or cherubic watch, by stealth 
Found unsuspected way. There was a place, 
Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change, 
Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise 7° 

Into a gulf shot under ground, till part 
Rose up a fountain by the tree of life : 



200 PARADISE LOST. 

} In with the river sunk, and with it rose, 
Satan, involved in rising mist ; then sought 
Where to lie hid ; sea he had searched, and land, 
From Eden over Pontus, and the pool 
Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob ; 
Downward as far antartic ; and in length 
West from Orontes to the ocean barred 80 

At Darien ; thence to the land where flows 
Ganges and Indus : thus the orb he roamed 
With narrow search, and with inspection deep 
Considered every creature, which of all 
Most opportune might serve his wiles, and found 
The serpent subtlest beast of all the field. 
Him after long debate, irresolute 
Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose 
Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom 
To enter, and his dark suggestions hide 9° 

From sharpest sight : for in the wily snake, 
Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, 
As from his wit and native subtlety 
Proceeding ; which, in other beasts observed, 
Doubt might beget of diabolic power 
Active within, beyond the sense of brute. 
Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief 
His bursting passion into plaints thus poured : 

" O earth ! how like to Heaven, if not preferred 
More justly, seat worthier of gods, as built I0 ° 

With second thoughts, reforming what was old ! 
For what God, after better, worse would build ? 
Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens 
That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, 
Light aboye light, for thee alone, as seems, 



BOOK IX. 20I 

In thee concentring all their precious beams 

Of sacred influence ! As God in Heaven 

Is centre, yet extends to all, so thou 

Centring receivest from all those orbs ; in thee, 

Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears II0 

Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth 

Of creatures animate with gradual life 

Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in man. 

With what delight could I have walked thee round, 

If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange 

Of hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains, 

Now land, now sea, and shores with forest crowned, 

Rocks, dens, and caves ! But I in none of these 

Find place or refuge ; and the more I see 

Pleasures about me, so much more I feel I2 ° 

Torment within me, as from the hateful siege 

Of contraries ; all good to me becomes 

Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state. 

But neither here seek I, no, nor in Heaven 

To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme ; 

Nor hope to be myself less miserable 

By what I seek, but others to make such 

As I, though thereby worse to me redound : 

For only in destroying I find ease 

To my relentless thoughts ; and him destroyed, l 3° 

Or won to what may work his utter loss, 

For whom all this was made, all this will soon 

Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe ; 

In woe then ; that destruction wide may range : 

To me shall be the glory sole among 

The infernal powers, in one day to have marred 

What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days 



202 PARADISE LOST. 

Continued making, and who knows how long 
Before had been contriving? though perhaps 
Not longer than since I in one night freed I 4° 

From servitude inglorious well nigh half 
The angelic name, and thinner left the throng 
Of his adorers : he, to be avenged, 
And to repair his numbers thus impaired, 
Whether such virtue spent of old now failed 
More angels to create, if they at least 
Are his created, or, to spite us more, 
Determined to advance into our room 
A creature formed of earth, and him endow, 
Exalted from so base original, I 5° 

With heavenly spoils, our spoils : what he decreed 
He effected ; man he made, and for him built 
Magnificent this world, and earth his seat, 
Him lord pronounced, and (oh, indignity !) 
Subjected to his service angel- wings, 
And flaming ministers to watch and tend 
Their earthly charge : of these the vigilance 
I dread ; and to elude, thus wrapped in mist 
Of midnight vapor, glide obscure, and pry 
In every bush and brake, where hap may find l6 ° 

The serpent sleeping, in whose mazy folds 
To hide me and the dark intent I bring. 
Oh, foul descent ! that I, who erst contended 
With gods to sit the highest, am now constrained 
Into a beast ; and, mixed with bestial slime, 
This essence to incarnate and imbrute, 
That to the height of deity aspired ! 
\ But what will not ambition and revenge 
Descend to ? Who aspires must down as low 



BOOK IX. 203 

As high he soared, obnoxious first or last l 7° 

To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, 
Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils : 
Let it ; I reck not, so it light well aimed, 
Since higher I fall short, on him who next 
Provokes my envy, this new favorite 
Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite, 
Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised 
From dust : spite then with spite is best repaid." 

So saying, through each thicket dank or dry 
Like a black mist low creeping, he held on l8 ° 

His midnight search, where soonest he might find 
The serpent : him fast sleeping soon he found 
In labyrinth of many a round self- rolled, 
His head the midst, well stored with subtle wiles : 
Nor yet in horrid shade or dismal den, 
Nor nocent yet, but on the grassy herb 
Fearless, unfeared, he slept : in at his mouth 
The Devil entered, and his brutal sense, 
In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired 
With act intelligential ; but his sleep J 9° 

Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn. 
Now when as sacred light began to dawn 
In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed 
Their morning incense, when all things that breathe, 
From the earth's great altar send up silent praise 
To the Creator, and his nostrils fill 
With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, 
And joined their vocal worship to the choir 
Of creatures wanting voice ; that done, partake 
The season, prime for sweetest scents and airs : 20 ° 
Then commune, how that day they best may ply 



204 PARADISE LOST. 

Their growing work : for much their work outgrew 
The hands' despatch of two gardening so wide. 
And Eve first to her husband thus began : 

" Adam, well may we labor still to dress 
This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, 
Our pleasant task enjoined ; but, till more hands 
Aid us, the work under our labor grows, 
Luxurious by restraint ; what we by day 
Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, 2I ° 

One night or two with wanton growth derides, 
Tending to wild. Thou, therefore, now advise, 
Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present : 
Let us divide our labors ; thou where choice 
Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind 
The woodbine round this arbor, or direct 
The clasping ivy where to climb ; while I, 
In yonder spring of roses intermixed 
With myrtle, find what to redress till noon : 
For while so near each other thus all day 22 <> 

Our task we choose, what wonder if so near 
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new 
Casual discourse draw on ; which intermits 
Our day's work, brought to little, though begun 
Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned ? " 

To whom mild answer Adam thus returned : 
" Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond 
Compare above all living creatures dear ! 
Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed, 
How we might best fulfil the work which here 2 3° 

God hath assigned us, nor of me shalt pass 
Unpraised ; for nothing lovelier can be found 
In woman, than to study household good, 



BOOK IX. 205 

And good works in her husband to promote. 

Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed 

Labor, as to debar us when we need 

Refreshment, whether food or talk between, 

Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse 

Of looks and smiles ; for smiles from reason flow, 

To brute denied, and are of love the food ; 2 4° 

Love, not the lowest end of human life. 

For not to irksome toil, but to delight 

He made us, and delight to reason joined. 

These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands 

Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide 

As we need walk, till younger hands ere long 

Assist us : but if much converse perhaps 

Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield ; 

For solitude sometimes is best society, 

And short retirement urges sweet return. 2 5° 

But other doubt possesses me, lest harm 

Befall thee severed from me ; for thou know'st 

What hath been warned us, what malicious foe, 

Envying our happiness, and of his own 

Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame 

By sly assault ; and somewhere nigh at hand 

Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find 

His wish and best advantage, us asunder ; 

Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each 

To other speedy aid might lend at need : 2 6o 

Whether his first design be to withdraw 

Our fealty from God, or to disturb 

Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss 

Enjoyed by us excites his envy more ; 

Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side 



206 PARADISE LOST. 

That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. 
The wife, where danger or dishonor lurks, 
Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, 
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures." 

To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, 2 7° 

As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, 
With sweet austere composure thus replied : 

" Offspring of Heaven and earth, and all earth's lord, 
That such an enemy we have, who seeks 
Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn, 
And from the parting angel overheard, 
As in a shady nook I stood behind, 
Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. 
But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt 
To God or thee, because we have a foe 28 ° 

May tempt it, I expected not to hear. 
His violence thou fear'st not, being such 
As we, not capable of death or pain, 
Can either not receive, or can repel. 
His fraud is then thy fear, which plain infers 
Thy equal fear that my firm faith and love 
Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced ; 
Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast, 
Adam, misthought of her to thee so dear? " 

To whom with healing words Adam replied : 2 9° 
" Daughter of God and man, immortal Eve, 
For such thou art, from sin and blame entire : 
Not diffident of thee do I dissuade 
Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid 
The attempt itself, intended by our foe. 
For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses 
The tempted with dishonor foul ; supposed 



BOOK IX. 207 

Not incorruptible of faith, not proof 

Against temptation : thou thyself with scorn 

And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong, 3°° 

Though ineffectual found : misdeem not, then, 

If such affront I labor to avert 

From thee alone, which on us both at once 

The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare ; 

Or, daring, first on me the assault shall light. 

Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn ; 

Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce 

Angels ; nor think superfluous others' aid. 

I from the influence of thy looks receive 

Access in every virtue ; in thy sight 3 l ° 

More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were, 

Of outward strength ; while shame, thou looking on, 

Shame to be overcome or over-reached, 

Would utmost vigor raise, and raised unite. 

Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel 

When I am present, and thy trial choose 

With me, best witness of thy virtue tried ? " 

So spake domestic Adam in his care 
And matrimonial love ; but Eve, who thought 
Less attributed to her faith sincere, 3 20 

Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed : 

" If this be our condition, thus to dwell 
In narrow circuit straitened by a foe, 
Subtle or violent, we not endued 
Single with like defence, wherever met, 
How are we happy, still in fear of harm ? 
But harm precedes not sin : only our foe, 
Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem 
Of our integrity : his foul esteem 



208 PARADISE LOST. 

Sticks no dishonor on our front, but turns 33° 

Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared 
By us ? who rather double honor gain 
From his surmise proved false ; find peace within, 
Favor from Heaven, our witness, from the event. 
And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed 
Alone, without exterior help sustained ? 
Let us not, then, suspect our happy state 
Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, 
As not secure to single or combined. 
Frail is our happiness, if this be so, 34° 

And Eden were no Eden thus exposed." 
To whom thus Adam fervently replied : 
" O woman, best are all things as the will 
Of God ordained them : his creating hand 
Nothing imperfect or deficient left 
Of all that he created, much less man, 
Or ought that might his happy state secure, 
Secure from outward force ; within himself 
The danger lies, yet lies within his power : 
Against his will he can receive no harm. 35° 

But God left free the will, for what obeys 
Reason, is free ; and Reason he made right, 
But bid her well beware, and still erect ; 
Lest by some fair-appearing good surprised 
She dictate false, and misinform the will 
To do what God expressly hath forbid. 
Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins 
That I should mind thee oft ; and mind thou me. 
Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve, 
Since Reason not impossibly may meet 3 6 ° 

Some specious object by the foe suborned, 



BOOK IX, 209 

And fall into deception unaware, 

Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned. 

Seek not temptation then, which to avoid 

Were better, and most likely if from me 

Thou sever not : trial will come unsought. 

Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve 

First thy obedience ; the other who can know, 

Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? 

But if thou think trial unsought may find Z7° 

Us both securer than thus warned thou seem'st, 

Go ; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more ; 

Go in thy native innocence ; rely 

On what thou hast of virtue ; summon all : 

For God towards thee hath done his part : do thine." 

So spake the patriarch of mankind ; but Eve 
Persisted ; yet submiss, though last, replied : 

" With thy permission, then, and thus forewarned 
Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words 
Touched only, that our trial, when least sought, 3 8 ° 
May find us both, perhaps, far less prepared, 
The willinger I go, nor much expect 
A foe so proud will first the weaker seek ; 
So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse." 

Thus saying, from her husband's hand her hand 
Soft she withdrew, and, like a wood-nymph light, 
Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, 
Betook her to the groves ; but Delia's self 
In gait surpassed, and goddess-like deport, 
Though not as she with bow and quiver armed, 39° 
But with such gardening tools as art yet rude, 
Guiltless of fire, had formed, or angels brought. 
To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned, 



2IO PARADISE LOST. 

Likest she seemed ; Pomona when she fled 

Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, 

Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. 

Her long with ardent look his eye pursued 

Delighted, but desiring more her stay. 

Oft he to her his charge of quick return 

Repeated ; she to him as oft engaged 4°o 

To be returned by noon amid the bower, 

And all things in best order to invite 

Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. 

O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, 

Of thy presumed return ! event perverse ! 

Thou never from that hour in Paradise 

Found'st either sweet repast, or sound repose ; 

Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades, 

Waited with hellish rancor imminent 

To intercept thy way, or send thee back 4 10 

Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss. 

For now, and since first break of dawn, the fiend, 

Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come, 

And on his quest, where likeliest he might find 

The only two of mankind, but in them 

The whole included race, his purposed prey. 

In bower and field he sought, where any tuft 

Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, 

Their tendance, or plantation for delight ; 

By fountain or by shady rivulet A 20 

He sought them both, but wished his hap might find 

Eve separate ; he wished, but not with hope 

Of what so seldom chanced ; when to his wish, 

Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, 

Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, 



BOOK IX. 211 

Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round 

About her glowed, oft stooping to support 

Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay 

Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold, 

Hung drooping unsustained ; them she upstays 

Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while 

Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, 

From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. 

Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed 

Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm ; 

Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen 

Among thick-woven arborets and flowers 

Embordered on each bank, the hand of Eve : 

Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned 

Or of revived Adonis, or renowned 44° 

Alcinous, host of old Laertes* son ; 

Or that, not mystic, where the sapient king 

Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. 

Much he the place admired, the person more. 

As one who long in populous city pent, 

Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, 

Forth issuing on a summer's morn to breathe 

Among the pleasant villages and farms 

Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight ; 

The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, 45° 

Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound ; 

If chance with nymph-like step fair virgin pass, 

What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more ; 

She most, and in her look sums all delight : 

Such pleasure took the serpent to behold 

This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve, 

Thus early, thus alone : her heavenly form 



212 PARADISE LOST. 

Angelic, but more soft and feminine ; 

Her graceful innocence, her every air 

Of gesture, or least action, overawed 460 

His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved 

His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought. 

That space the Evil One abstracted stood 

From his own evil, and for the time remained 

Stupidly good, of enmity disarmed, 

Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge ; 

But the hot Hell that always in him burns, 

Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight, 

And tortures him now more, the more he sees 

Of pleasure not for him ordained : then soon 47© 

Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts 

Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites : 

" Thoughts, whither have ye led me ! with what sweet 
Compulsion thus transported to forget 
What hither brought us ! hate, not love ; nor hope 
Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste 
Of pleasure ; but all pleasure to destroy, 
Save what is in destroying ; other joy 
To me is lost. Then let me not let pass 
Occasion which now smiles ; behold alone 4 8 ° 

The woman, opportune to all attempts ; 
Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, 
Whose higher intellectual more I shun, 
And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb 
Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould ; 
Foe not in formidable ; exempt from wound, 
I not ; so much hath Hell debased, and pain 
Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. 
She fair, divinely fair, fit love for gods ; 



BOOK IX, 213 

Not terrible, though terror be in love 49° 

And beauty, not approached by stronger hate, 
Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned, 
The way which to her ruin now I tend." 

So spake the enemy of mankind enclosed 
In serpent, inmate bad ! and toward Eve 
Addressed his way : not with indented wave, 
Prone on the ground, as since ; but on his rear, 
Circular base of rising folds that towered 
Fold above fold, a surging maze ; his head 
Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes ; 5 00 

With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect 
Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass 
Floated redundant : pleasing was his shape, 
And lovely ; never since of serpent kind 
Lovelier ; not those that in Illyria changed 
Hermione and Cadmus, or the god 
In Epidaurus ; nor to which transformed 
Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen ; 
He with Olympias ; this with her who bore 
Scipio, the height of Rome. With tract oblique 5 IQ 
At first, as one who sought access, but feared 
To interrupt, sidelong he works his way. 
As when a ship by skilful steersman wrought 
Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind 
Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail : 
So varied he, and of his tortuous train 
Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, 
To lure her eye ; she, busied, heard the sound 
Of rustling leaves, but minded not, as used 
To such disport before her through the field, 5 20 

From every beast ; more duteous at her call 



214 PARADISE LOST. 

Than at Circean call the herd diguised. 
He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood, 
But as in gaze admiring : oft he bowed 
His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck, 
Fawning ; and licked the ground whereon she trod. 
His gentle dumb expression turned at length 
The eye of Eve to mark his play ; he, glad 
Of her attention gained, with serpent tongue 
Organic, or impulse of vocal air, 53° 

His fraudulent temptation thus began : 

" Wonder not, sovereign mistress, if perhaps 
Thou canst, who art sole wonder ; much less arm 
Thy looks, the heaven of mildness, with disdain, 
Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze 
Insatiate, I thus single ; nor have feared 
Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired. 
Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, 
Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine 
By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore 54° 

With ravishment beheld, there best beheld, 
Where universally admired ; but here 
In this enclosure wild, these beasts among, 
Beholders rude, and shallow to discern 
Half what in thee is fair, one man except, 
Who sees thee ? (and what is one ?). who shouldst be 

seen 
A goddess among gods, adored and served 
By angels numberless, thy daily train." 

So glozed the tempter, and his proem tuned : 
Into the heart of Eve his words made way, 55° 

Though at the voice much marvelling ; at length, 
Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake : 



BOOK IX. 215 

" What may this mean ? language of man pronounced 
By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed? 
The first, at least, of these I thought denied 
To beasts, whom God on their creation-day 
Created mute to all articulate sound : 
The latter I demur ; for in their looks 
Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. 
Thee, serpent, subtlest beast of all the field 5 6 ° 

I knew, but not with human voice endued ; 
Redouble then this miracle, and say, 
How earnest thou speakable of mute, and how 
To me so friendly grown above the rest 
Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? 
Say, for such wonder claims attention due." 

To whom the guileful tempter thus replied : 
" Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve, 
Easy to me it is to tell thee all 

What thou command'st, and right thou shouldst be 
obeyed. 57° 

I was at first as other beasts that graze 
The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, 
As was my food ; nor aught but food discerned, 
Or sex, and apprehended nothing high : 
Till on a day, roving the field, I chanced 
A goodly tree far distant to behold 
Loaden with fruit of fairest colors mixed, 
Ruddy and gold : I nearer drew to gaze ; 
When from the boughs a savory odor blown, 
Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense . 5 8 ° 

Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats 
Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, 
Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play. 



2l6 PARADISE LOST. 

To satisfy the sharp desire I had 

Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved 

Not to defer ; hunger and thirst at once, 

Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent 

Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen. 

About the mossy trunk I wound me soon, 

For high from ground the branches would require 59° 

Thy utmost reach or Adam's : round the tree 

All other beasts that saw, with like desire 

Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. 

Amid the tree now got,, where plenty hung 

Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill 

I spared not ; for such pleasure, till that hour, 

At feed or fountain never had I found. 

Sated at length, ere long I might perceive 

Strange alteration in me, to degree 

Of reason in my inward powers, and speech 6o ° 

Wanted not long, though to this shape retained. 

Thenceforth to speculations high or deep 

I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind 

Considered all things visible in Heaven, 

Or earth, or middle, all things fair and good ; 

But all that fair and good in thy divine 

Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray, 

United I beheld ; no fair to thine 

Equivalent or second, which compelled 

Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come 6l ° 

And gaze, and worship thee, of right declared 

Sovereign of creatures, universal dame." 

So talked the spirited sly snake ; and Eve, 
Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied : 

" Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt 



BOOK IX. 217 

The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved ; 

But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far? 

For many are the trees of God that grow 

In Paradise, and various, yet unknown 

To us ; in such abundance lies our choice, 62 ° 

As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched, 

Still hanging incorruptible, till men 

Grow up to their provision, and more hands 

Help to disburden Nature of her birth." 

To whom the wily adder, blithe and glad : 
" Empress, the way is ready, and not long ; 
Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat, 
Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past 
Of blowing myrrh and balm : if thou accept 
My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon." 6 3° 

c " Lead then," said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled 
I In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, 
To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy 
Brightens his crest ; as when a wandering fire, 
Compact of unctuous vapor, which the night 
Condenses, and the cold environs round, 
Kindled through agitation to a flame, 
Which oft, they say, some evil spirit attends, 
Hovering and blazing with delusive light, 
Misleads the amazed night- wanderer from his way 6 4° 
To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool ; 
There swallowed up and lost, from succor far. 
So glistered the dire snake, and into fraud 
Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree 
Of prohibition, root of all our woe ; 
Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake : 
" Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither, 



2l8 PARADISE LOST. 






Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, 
The credit of whose virtue rest with thee ; 
Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects. 6 5° 

But of this tree we may not taste nor touch ; 
God so commanded, and left that command 
Sole daughter of his voice ; the rest, we live 
Law to ourselves ; our reason is our law." 

To whom the tempter guilefully replied : 
" Indeed ! hath God then said that of the fruit 
Of all these garden trees ye shall not eat, 
Yet lords declared of all in earth or air? " 

To whom thus Eve, yet sinless : " Of the fruit 
Of each tree in the garden we may eat ; 660 

But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst 
The garden, God hath said, ' Ye shall not eat 
Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' " 

She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold 
The tempter, but with show of zeal and love 
To man, and indignation at his wrong, 
New part puts on ; and, as to passion moved, 
Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act 
Raised, as of some great matter to begin. 
As when of old some orator renowned, 670 

In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence 
Flourished, since mute, to some great cause addressed, 
Stood in himself collected ; while each part, 
Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue, 
Sometimes in height began, as no delay 
Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right : 
So standing, moving, or to height up-grown, 
The tempter, all impassioned, thus began : 

" O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving plant, 



BOOK IX. 219 

Mother of science ! now I feel thy power 68 ° 

Within me clear, not only to discern 

Things in their causes, but to trace the ways 

Of highest agents, deemed however wise. 

Queen of this universe, do not believe 

Those rigid threats of death. Ye shall not die ! 

How should ye ? By the fruit ? It gives you life 

To knowledge. By the Threatener? Look on me, 

Me who have touched and tasted, yet both live, 

And life more perfect have attained than Fate 

Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. 6 9° 

Shall that be shut to man, which to the beast 

Is open ? or will God incense his ire 

For such a petty trespass ? and not praise 

Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain 

Of death denounced, whatever thing death be, 

Deterred not from achieving what might lead 

To happier life, knowledge of good and evil. 

Of good, how just ? of evil, if what is evil 

Be real, why not known, since easier shunned ? 

God therefore cannot hurt ye and be just ; 7°° 

Not just, not God ; not feared then, nor obeyed : 

Your fear itself of death removes the fear. 

Why then was this forbid ? Why, but to awe ? 

Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant, 

His worshippers ? He knows that in the day 

Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, 

Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then 

Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as gods, 

Knowing both good and evil as they know. 

That ye shall be as gods, since I as man, 7 10 

Internal man, is but proportion meet : 



220 PARADISE LOST. 

I of brute human, ye of human gods. 
So ye shall die, perhaps, by putting off 
Human, to put on gods ; death to be wished, 
Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring. 
And what are gods that man may not become 
As they, participating godlike food? 
The gods are first, and that advantage use 
On our belief that all from them proceeds : 
I question it ; for this fair earth I see, 7 20 I 

Warmed by the sun, producing every kind, 
Them nothing : if they all things, who enclosed 
Knowledge of good and evil in this tree, 
That whoso eats thereof forthwith attains 
Wisdom without their leave ? and wherein lies 
The offence, that man should thus attain to know? 
What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree 
Impart against his will, if all be his ? 
Or is it envy? and can envy dwell 
In heavenly breasts ? These, these and many more 73° 
Causes import your need of this fair fruit. 
Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste." 
He ended ; and his words, replete with guile, 
Into her heart too easy entrance won : 
Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold 
Might tempt alone, and in her §*urs the sound 
Yet rung of his persuasive words impregned 
With reason, to her seeming, aTW^ith truth ; 
Meanwhile the hour of noon drew on, and waked 
An eager appetite, raised by the smell 74° 

So savory of that fruit, which with desire, 
Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, 
Solicited her longing eye ; yet first, 



BOOK IX. 221 

Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused : 

" Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, 
Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired ; 
Whose taste, too long forborne, at first assay 
Gave elocution to the mute, and taught 
The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise : 
Thy praise He also, who forbids thy use, 75° 

Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree 
Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil ; 
Forbids us then to taste ! but his forbidding 
Commends thee more, while it infers the good 
By thee communicated, and our want : 
For good unknown sure is not had ; or, had 
And yet unknown, is as not had at all. 
In plain, then, what forbids he but to know, 
Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise ? 
Such prohibitions bind not. But if death 760 

Binds us with after-bands, what profits then 
Our inward freedom ? In the day we eat 
Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die. 
How dies the serpent? he hath eaten and lives, 
And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns, 
Irrational till then. For us alone 
Was death invented ? or to us denied 
This intellectual food, for beasts reserved ? 
For beasts it seems : yet that one beast which first 
Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy 77° 

The good befallen him, author unsuspect, 
Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. 
What fear I, then ? rather, what know to fear 
Under this ignorance of good and evil, 
Of God or death, of law or penalty ? 



222 



PARADISE LOST. 



Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, 
Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, 
Of virtue to make wise : what hinders then 
To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? " 
/ So saying, her rash hand in evil hour 7&> 

Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she ate : 
Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat, 
Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, 
That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk 
The guilty serpent ; and well might ; for Eve, 
Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else 
Regarded ; such delight till then, as seemed, 
In fruit she never tasted, whether true 
Or fancied so, through expectation high 
Of knowledge ; nor was Godhead from her thought. 79° 
Greedily she engorged without restraint, 
And knew not eating death ; satiate at length, 
And heightened as with wine, jocund and boon, 
Thus to herself she pleasingly began : 

" O sovereign, virtuous, precious of all trees 
In Paradise ! of operation blest 
To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed, 
And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end 
Created ; but henceforth my early care, 
Not without song, each morning, and due praise, 
Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease 
Of thy full branches offered free to all ; 
Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature 
In knowledge, as the gods who all things know ; 
Though others envy what they cannot give : 
For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here 
Thus grown. Experience next, to thee I owe, 



800 



i 



BOOK IX. 223 

Best guide ; not following thee, I had remained 

In ignorance ; thou open'st Wisdom's way, 

And givest access, though secret she retire. 8l ° 

And I perhaps am secret : Heaven is high, 

High, and remote to see from thence distinct 

Each thing on earth ; and other care perhaps 

May have diverted from continual watch 

Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies 

About him. But to Adam in what sort 

Shall I appear? shall I to him make known 

As yet my change, and give him to partake 

Full happiness with me, or rather not, 

But keep the odds of knowledge in my power 82 ° 

Without co-partner? so to add what wants 

In female sex, the more to draw his love, 

And render me more equal, and perhaps, 

A thing not undesirable, sometime 

Superior ; for inferior, who is free ? 

This may be well : but what if God have seen, 

And death ensue ? Then I shall be no more ! 

And Adam, wedded to another Eve, 

Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct : 

A death to think ! Confirmed then I resolve, 8 3° 

Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe : 

So dear I love him, that with him all deaths 

I could endure, without him live no life." 

So saying, from the tree her step she turned, 
But first low reverence done, as to the power 
That dwelt within, whose presence had infused 
Into the plant sciential sap, derived 
From nectar, drink of gods. Adam the while, 
Waiting desirous her return, had wove 



224 PARADISE LOST. 

Of choicest flowers a garland to adorn 840 

Her tresses, and her rural labors crown, 

As reapers oft are wont their harvest queen. 

Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new 

Solace in her return, so long delayed : 

Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, 

Misgave him ; he the faltering measure felt ; 

And forth to meet her went, the way she took 

That morn when first they parted : by the tree 

Of knowledge he must pass ; there he her met, 

Scarce from the tree returning ; in her hand 8 5° 

A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, 

New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. 

To him she hasted ; in her face excuse 

Came prologue, and apology too prompt, 

Which with bland words at will she thus addressed : 

" Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay? 
Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived 
Thy presence ; agony of love till now 
Not felt, nor shall be twice ; for never more 
Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought, 86 ° 

The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange 
Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear : 
This tree is not, as we are told, a tree 
Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown 
Opening the way, but of divine effect 
To open eyes, and make them gods who taste ; 
And hath been tasted such : the serpent wise, 
Or not restrained as we, or not obeying, 
Hath eaten of the fruit, and is become, 
Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth 8 7o 
Endued with human voice and human sense, 



BOOK IX. 225 

• 
Reasoning to admiration ; and with me 

Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I 

Have also tasted, and have also found 

The effects to correspond : opener mine eyes, 

Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart, 

And growing up to godhead ; which for thee 

Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. 

For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss ; 

Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon. 88 ° 

Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot 

May join us, equal joy as equal love ; 

Lest, thou not tasting, different degree 

Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce 

Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit." 

Thus Eve, with countenance blithe, her story told ; 
But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed. 
On the other side, Adam, soon as he heard 
The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, 
Astonied stood and blank, while horror chill 8 9° 

Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed ; 
From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve 
Down dropped, and all the faded roses shed ; 
Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length 
First to himself he inward silence broke : 

" O fairest of creation, last and best 
Of all God's works, creature in whom excelled 
Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, 
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet, 
How art thou lost ! how on a sudden lost, 9°° 

Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote ! 
Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress 
The strict forbiddance, how to violate 



226 PARADISE LOST. 

• 
The sacred fruit forbidden ! Some cursed fraud 

Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown, 

And me with thee hath ruined ; for with thee 

' Certain my resolution is to die : 

How can I live without thee ? how forego 

Thy sweet converse and love so dearly joined, 

To live again in these wild woods forlorn? 9 10 

Should God create another Eve, and I 

Another rib afford, yet loss of thee 

Would never from my heart : no, no ! I feel 

The link of nature draw me ; flesh of flesh, 

Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state 

Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe." 

So having said, as one from sad dismay 
Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed # 

Submitting to what seemed remediless, 
Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned : 9 2 ° 

" Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve, 
And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared, 
Had it been only coveting to eye 
That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence, 
Much more to taste it under ban to touch. 
But past who can recall, or done undo ? 
Not God omnipotent, nor Fate ; yet so 
Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact 
Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit, 
Profaned first by the serpent, by him first 93° 

Made common and unhallowed ere our taste ; 
Nor yet on him found deadly ; he yet lives ; 
Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live as man, 
Higher degree of life : inducement strong 
To us, as likely tasting to attain 



BOOK IX. 227 

Proportional ascent, which cannot be 

But to be gods, or angels, demi-gods. 

Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, 

Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy 

Us his prime creatures, dignified so high, 94° 

Set over all his works, which in our fall, 

For us created, needs with us must fail, 

Dependent made ; so God shall uncreate, 

Be frustrate, do, undo, and labor lose : 

Not well conceived of God, who, though his power 

Creation could repeat, yet would be loath 

Us to abolish, lest the adversary 

Triumph, and say, i Fickle their state whom God 

Most favors ; who can please him long ? Me first 

He ruined, now mankind ; whom will he next ? ' 95° 

Matter of scorn, not to be given the foe. 

However, I with thee have fixed my lot, 

Certain to undergo like doom : if death 

Consort with thee, death is to me as life ; 

So forcible within my heart I feel 

The bond of nature draw me to my own, 

My own in thee, for what thou art is mine ; 

Our state cannot be severed ; we are one, 

One flesh ; to lose thee were to lose myself." 

So Adam, and thus Eve to him replied : 9 6 ° 

" O glorious trial of exceeding love, 
Illustrious evidence, example high ! 
Engaging me to emulate ; but, short 
Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, 
Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung? 
And gladly of our union hear thee speak, 
One heart, one soul in both ; whereof good proof 






228 PARADISE LOST. 

This day affords, declaring thee resolved, 

Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, 

Shall separate us, linked in love so dear, 97° 

To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, 

If any be, of tasting this fair fruit, 

Whose virtue (for of good still good proceeds, 

Direct, or by occasion) hath presented 

This happy trial of thy love, which else 

So eminently never had been known? 

Were it I thought death menaced would ensue 

This my attempt, I would sustain alone 

The worst, and not persuade thee ; rather die 

Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact 9$° 

Pernicious to thy peace, chiefly assured 

Remarkably so late of thy so true, 

So faithful love unequalled : but I feel 

Far otherwise the event ; not death, but life 

Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys, 

Taste so divine, that what of sweet before 

Hath touched my sense flat seems to this, and harsh. 

On my experience, Adam, freely taste, 

And fear of death deliver to the winds." 

So saying, she embraced him, and for joy 99° 

Tenderly wept ; much won, that he his love 
Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur 
Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. 
( In recompense (for such compliance bad 
Such recompense best merits) from the bough 
She gave him of that fair enticing fruit 
With liberal hand : he scrupled not to eat, 
Against his better knowledge ; not deceived, 
But fondly overcome with female charm. 



BOOK IX. 229 

Earth trembled from her entrails, as again IOO ° 

In pangs ; and Nature gave a second groan ; 

Sky loured ; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops 

Wept at completing of the mortal sin 

Original : while Adam took no thought, 

Eating his fill ; or Eve to iterate 

Her former trespass feared, the more to soothe 

Him with her loved society ; that now, 

As with new wine intoxicated both, 

They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel 

Divinity within them breeding wings, 1010 

Wherewith to scorn the earth : but that false fruit 

Far other operation first displayed, 

Carnal desire inflaming ; he on Eve 

Began to cast lascivious eyes, she him 

As wantonly repaid ; in lust they burn : 

Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move : 

" Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, 
And elegant, of sapience no small part ; 
Since to each meaning savor we apply, 
And palate call judicious ; I the praise I02 ° 

Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. 
Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained 
From this delightful fruit, nor known till now 
True relish, tasting ; if such pleasure be 
In things to us forbidden, it might be wished 
For this one tree had been forbidden ten. 
But come, so well refreshed, now let us play, 
As meet is, after such delicious fare ; 
For never did thy beauty, since the day 
I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned I0 3° 

With all perfections, so inflame my sense 



23O PARADISE LOST. 

With ardor to enjoy thee, fairer now 

Than ever, bounty of this virtuous tree." . . . 

Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, 
That with exhilarating vapor bland 
About their spirits had played, and inmost powers 
Made err, was now exhaled ; and grosser sleep, 
Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams . I0 5° 
Encumbered, now had left them : up they rose 
As from unrest, and, each the other viewing, 
Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds 
How darkened ; innocence, that as a veil 
Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone, 
Just confidence, and native righteousness, 
And honor from about them, naked left 
To guilty Shame ; he covered, but his robe 
Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong, 
Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap Io6 ° 

Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked 
Shorn of his strength ; they destitute and bare 
Of all their virtue : silent, and in face 
Confounded, long they sat, as stricken mute ; 
Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed, 
At length gave utterance to these words constrained : 

" O Eve ! in evil hour thou didst give ear 
To that false worm, of whomsoever taught 
To counterfeit man's voice ; true in our fall, 
False in our promised rising ; since our eyes I0 7° 

Opened we find indeed, and find we know 
Both good and evil : good lost, and evil got ; 
Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know, 
Which leaves us naked thus, of honor void, 
Of innocence, of faith, of purity, 



BOOK IX. 231 

Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained, 
And in our faces evident the signs 
Of foul concupiscence ; whence evil store ; 
Even shame, the last of evils ; of the first 
Be sure then. How shall I behold the face Io8 ° 

Henceforth of God or angel, erst with joy 
And rapture so oft beheld ? Those heavenly shapes 
Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze 
Insufferably bright. Oh ! might I here 
In solitude live savage, in some glade 
Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable 
To star or sunlight, spread their umbrage broad 
And brown as evening : cover me, ye pines ! 
Ye cedars, with innumerable boughs 
Hide me, where I may never see them more ! I0 9° 
But let us now, as in bad plight, devise 
What best may for the present serve to hide 
The parts of each from other, that seem most 
To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen ; 
Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed, 
And girded on our loins, may cover round 
Those middle parts, that this new comer, Shame, 
There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.' ■ 
So counselled he, and both together went 
Into the thickest wood ; there soon they chose "o° 
The fig-tree, not that kind for fruit renowned, 
But such as at this day to Indians known 
In Malabar or Deccan spreads her arms 
Branching so broad and long, that in the ground 
The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow 
About the mother tree, a pillared shade 
High overarched, and echoing walks between : 



232 



PARADISE LOST. 



There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, 

Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds 

At loopholes cut through thickest shade : those leaves 

They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe, IIJI 

And, with what skill they had, together sewed, 

To gird their waist : vain covering, if to hide 

Their guilt and dreaded shame ! Oh, how unlike 

To that first naked glory ! Such of late 

Columbus found the American, so girt 

With feathered cincture, naked else and wild 

Among the trees on isles and woody shores. 

Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part 

Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, II20 

They sat them down to weep ; nor only tears 

Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within 

Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, 

Mistrust, suspicion, discord ; and shook sore 

Their inward state of mind, calm region once 

And full of peace, now tossed and turbulent : 

For Understanding ruled not, and the Will 

Heard not her lore ; both in subjection now 

To sensual appetite, who from beneath 

Usurping over sovereign Reason claimed "3° 

Superior sway. From thus distempered breast, 

Adam, estranged in look and altered style, 

Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed : 

" Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and stayed 
With me, as I be^ougl^t thee, when that strange 
Desire of wa^eririg, this unhappy morn, 
I know not wlience possess^ fhee ; we had then 
Remained still happy ; not a^ now, despoiled 
Qf all our good, shamed, naked, miserable. 



BOOK IX. 233 

Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve X1 4° 
The faith they owe ; when earnestly they seek 
Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail." 

To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve : 
" What words have passed thy lips, Adam, severe ! 
Imput'st thou that to my default, or will 
Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows 
But might as ill have happened thou being by, 
Or to thyself, perhaps ? Hadst thou been there, 
Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned 
Fraud in the serpent, speaking as he spake ; "5° 

No ground of enmity between us known, 
Why should he mean me ill, or seek to harm ? 
Was I to have never parted from thy side ? 
As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. 
Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head, 
Command me absolutely not to go, 
Going into such danger as thou saidst ? 
Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay ; 
Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. 
Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, " 6o 
Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me." 

To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied : 
" Is this the love, is this the recompense 
Of mine to thee, ungrateful Eve ! expressed 
Immutable when thou wert lost, not I, 
Who might have lived and joyed immortal bliss, 
Yet willingly chose rather death with thee ? 
And am I now upbraided as the cause 
Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe, 
It seems, in thy restraint : what could I more? "7° 
I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold 



234 



PARADISE LOST. 



The danger, and the lurking enemy 

That lay in wait ; beyond this had been force, 

And force upon free will hath here no place, 

But confidence then bore thee on, secure 

Either to meet no danger, or to find 

Matter of glorious trial ; and perhaps 

I also erred in overmuch admiring 

What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought 

No evil durst attempt thee ; but I rue 

That error now, which is become my crime, 

And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befall 

Him who, to worth in woman overtrusting, 

Lets her will rule : restraint she will not brook ; 

And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue, 

She first his weak indulgence will accuse." 

Thus they in mutual accusation spent 
The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning, 
And of their vain contest appeared no end. 






1180 



BOOK X. 235 

BOOK X. 

THE ARGUMENT. 

Man's transgression known, the guardian angels forsake Paradise, 
and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved ; 
God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them pre- 
vented. He sends his Son to judge the transgressors, who descends, 
and gives sentence accordingly ; then in pity clothes them both, and 
reascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of Hell, by 
wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, 
and the sin by man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined 
in Hell, but to follow Satan, their sire, up to the place of man. To 
make the way easier from Hell to this world, to and fro, they pave a 
broad highway or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan 
first made ; then preparing for earth, they meet him, proud of his suc- 
cess, returning to Hell ; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at 
Pandemonium ; in full assembly relates his success against man ; in- 
stead of applause is treated with a general hiss by all his audience, 
transformed, with himself also, suddenly into serpents, according to his 
doom given in Paradise ; then deluded with a show of the forbidden 
tree springing up before them, they, greedily reaching to take of the 
fruits, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and 
Death ; God foretells the final victory of his Son over them, and the 
renewing of all things ; but for the present commands his angels to 
make several alterations in the heavens and elements. Adam, more 
and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the 
condolement of Eve ; she persists, and at length appeases him ; then, 
to evade the curse likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to Adam 
violent ways, which he approves not, but, conceiving better hope, puts 
her in mind of the late promise made them, that her seed should be 
revenged on the serpent, and exhorts her with him to seek peace of 
the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication. 

Meanwhile the heinous and despiteful act 
Of Satan done in Paradise, and how- 
He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, 



236 PARADISE LOST. 

Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, 

Was known in Heaven ; for what can 'scape the eye 

Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart 

Omniscient ? who, in all things wise and just, 

Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind 

Of man, with strength entire, and free will armed, 

Complete to have discovered and repulsed I0 

Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. 

For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, 

The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, 

Whoever tempted ; which they not obeying, 

Incurred (what could they less ?) the penalty, 

And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall. 

Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste 

The angelic guards ascended, mute and sad, 

For man ; for of his state by this they knew, 

Much wondering how the subtle fiend had stolen 20 

Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news 

From earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased 

All were who heard ; dim sadness did not spare 

That time celestial visages, yet, mixed 

With pity, violated not their bliss. 

About the new-arrived, in multitudes 

The ethereal people ran, to hear and know 

How all befell : they towards the throne supreme 

Accountable made haste to make appear 

With righteous plea their utmost vigilance, 3° 

And easily approved ; when the Most High, 

Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, 

Amidst in thunder uttered thus his voice : 

" Assembled angels, and ye powers returned 
From unsuccessful charge, be not dismayed 






BOOK X. 237 

Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, 

Which your sincerest care could not prevent ; 

Foretold so lately what would come to pass, 

When first this tempter crossed the gulf from Hell. 

I told ye then he should prevail and speed 4° 

On his bad errand, man should be seduced 

And flattered out of all, believing lies 

Against his Maker ; no decree of mine 

Concurring to necessitate his fall, 

Or touch with lightest moment of impulse 

His free will, to her own inclining left 

In even scale. But fallen he is, and now 

What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass 

On his transgression, death denounced that day? 

Which he presumes already vain and void, 5° 

Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, 

By some immediate stroke ; but soon shall find 

Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. 

Justice shall not return as bounty scorned. 

But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, 

Vicegerent Son ? To thee I have transferred 

All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. 

Easy it may be seen that I intend 

Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee, 

Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed 6o 

Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary ; 

And destined man himself to judge man fallen." 

So spake the Father, and unfolding bright 
Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son 
Blazed forth unclouded Deity ; he full 
Resplendent all his Father manifest 
Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild : 



238 PARADISE LOST. 

" Father eternal, thine is to decree, 
Mine both in Heaven and earth to do thy will 
Supreme, that thou in me thy Son beloved 7° 

Mayst ever rest well pleased. I go to judge 
On earth these thy transgressors ; but thou know'st, 
Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, 
When time shall be ; for so I undertook 
Before thee ; and not repenting, this obtain 
Of right, that I may mitigate their doom 
On me derived ; yet I shall temper so 
Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most 
Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. 
Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none 8o 
Are to behold the judgment, but the judged, 
Those two ; the third best absent is condemned, 
Convict by flight, and rebel to all law : 
Conviction to the serpent none belongs." 

Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose 
Of high collateral glory ; him thrones, and powers, 
Princedoms, and dominations ministrant, 
Accompanied to Heaven -gate, from whence 
Eden and all the coast in prospect lay. 
Down he descended straight ; the speed of gods 9° 
Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. 
Now was the sun in western cadence low 
From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, 
To fan the earth now waked, and usher in 
The evening cool ; when he, from wrath more cool, 
Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both, 
To sentence man : the voice of God they heard 
Now walking in the garden, by soft winds 
Brought to their ears, while day declined ; they heard, 



BOOK X, 239 

And from His presence hid themselves among I0 ° 

The thickest trees, both man and wife, till God, 
Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud : 

" Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet 
VMy coming seen far off? I miss thee here, 
Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude, 
Where obvious duty erewhile appeared unsought : 
Or come I less conspicuous, or what change 
Absents thee, or what chance detains ? Come forth ! " 

He came, and with him Eve, more loath, though first 
To offend ; discountenanced both, and discomposed ; IIQ 
Love was not in their looks, either to God 
Or to each other, but apparent guilt, 
And shame, and perturbation, and despair, 
Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. 
Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief: 

" I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice 
Afraid, being naked, hid myself." To whom 
The gracious Judge without revile replied : 

" My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, 
But still rejoiced ; how is it now become I2 ° 

So dreadful to thee ? That thou art naked, who 
Hath told thee ? Hast thou eaten of the tree 
Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? " 

To whom thus Adam, sore beset, replied : 
" O Heaven ! in evil strait this day I stand 
Before my Judge, either to undergo 
Myself the total crime, or to accuse 
My other self, the partner of my life ; 
Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, 
I should conceal, and not expose to blame I 3° 

By my complaint : but strict necessity 



240 PARADISE LOST. 

Subdues me, and calamitous constraint, * 

Lest on my head both sin and punishment, 

However insupportable, be all 

Devolved ; though should I hold my peace, yet thou 

Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. 

This woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, 

And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, 

So fit, so acceptable, so divine, 

That from her hand I could suspect no ill, H° 

And what she did, whatever in itself, 

Her doing seemed to justify the deed ; 

She gave me of the tree, and I did eat." 

To whom the sovereign Presence thus replied : 
" Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey 
Before his voice ? or was she made thy guide, 
Superior, or but equal, that to her 
Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place 
Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, 
And for thee, whose perfection far excelled *5° 

Hers in all real dignity? Adorned 
She was indeed, and lovely, to attract 
Thy love, not thy subjection ; and her gifts 
Were such as under government well seemed ; 
Unseemly to bear rule ; which was thy part 
And person, hadst thou known thyself aright." 

So having said, he thus to Eve in few : 
" Say, woman, what is this which thou hast done ? " 

To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed, 
Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge ] ° 

Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied : 
"The serpent me beguiled, and I did eat." 

Which when the Lord God heard, without delay 



BOOK X. 24I 

To judgment he proceeded on the accused 

Serpent, though brute, unable to transfer 

The guilt on him who made him instrument 

Of mischief, and polluted from the end 

Of his creation ; justly then accursed, 

As vitiated in nature : more to know 

Concerned not man (since he no further knew), *7° 

Nor altered his offence ; yet God at last 

To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied, 

Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best ; 

And on the serpent thus his curse let fall : 

" Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed 
Above all cattle, each beast of the field ; 
Upon thy belly grovelling thou shalt go, 
And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. 
Between thee and the woman I will put 
Enmity, and between thine and her seed ; l8 ° 

Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel." 

So spake this oracle, then verified, 
When Jesus, son of Mary, second Eve, 
Saw Satan fall like lightning down from Heaven, 
Prince of the air ; then, rising from his grave, 
Spoiled principalities and powers, triumphed 
In open show, and with ascension bright 
Captivity led captive through the air, 
The realm itself of Satan, long usurped, 
Whom he shall tread at last under our feet ; J 9° 

Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise ; 
And to the woman thus his sentence turned : 

- " Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply 
By thy conception ; children thou shalt bring 
In sorrow forth ; and to thy husband's will 



242 



PARADISE LOST, 



Thine shall submit ; he over thee shall rule." 

On Adam last thus judgment he pronounced : 
" Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, 
And eaten of the tree concerning which 
I charged thee, saying, ' Thou shalt not eat thereof,' 2 °° 
Cursed is the ground for thy sake : thou in sorrow 
Shalt eat thereof all the days of thy life ; 
Thorns also, and thistles, it shall bring thee forth 
Unbid ; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field ; 
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 
Till thou return unto the ground ; for thou 
Out of the ground wast taken, know thy birth, 
For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return." 

So judged he man, both Judge and Saviour sent ; 
And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, 2I ° 
Removed far off; then pitying how they stood 
Before him naked to the air, that now 
Must suffer change, disdained not to begin 
Thenceforth the form of servant to assume, 
As when he washed his servants' feet ; so now, 
As father of his family, he clad 
Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, 
Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid ; 
And thought not much to clothe his enemies : 
Nor he their outward only with the skins 220 

Of beasts ; but inward nakedness, much more 
Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness 
Arraying, covered from his Father's sight. 
To him with swift ascent he up returned, 
Into his blissful bosom reassumed 
In glory as of old ; to him appeased 
All, though all-knowing, what had passed with man 



BOOK X. 243 

Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. 

Meanwhile, ere thus was sinned and judged on earth, 
Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, 2 3° 

In counterview within the gates, that now 
Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame 
Far into Chaos, since the fiend passed through, 
Sin opening ; who thus now to Death began : 

" O son, why sit we here each other viewing 
Idly, while Satan our great author thrives 
In other worlds, and happier seat provides 
For us his offspring dear? It cannot be 
But that success attends him ; if mishap, 
Ere this he had returned, with fury driven 2 4° 

By his avengers, since no place like this 
Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. 
Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, 
Wings growing, and dominion given me large 
Beyond this deep ; whatever draws me on, 
Or sympathy, or some connatural force, 
Powerful at greatest distance to unite 
With secret amity things of like kind 
By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade 
Inseparable, must with me along ; 2 5° 

For Death from Sin no power can separate. 
But lest the difficulty of passing back 
Stay his return perhaps over this gulf 
Impassable, impervious, let us try 
Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine 
Not unagreeable, to found a path 
Over this main from Hell to that new world 
Where Satan now prevails ; a monument 
Of merit high to all the infernal host, 



244 PARADISE LOST. 

Easing their passage hence, for intercourse, 2 ^° 

Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. 
Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn 
By this new-felt attraction and instinct." 

Whom thus the meagre shadow answered soon : 
" Go whither fate and inclination strong 
Lead thee ; I shall not lag behind, nor err 
The way, thou leading ; such a scent I draw 
Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste 
The savor of death from all things there that live : 
Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest 2 7° 

Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid." 

So saying, with delight he snuffed the smell 
Of mortal change on earth. As when a flock 
Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, 
Against the day of battle, to a field 
Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured 
With scent of living carcasses designed 
For death, the following day, in bloody fight : 
So scented the grim feature, and upturned 
His nostril wide into the murky air, 2 8o 

Sagacious of his quarry from so far. 
Then both from out Hell-gates into the waste 
Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, 
Flew diverse ; and with power (their power was great) 
Hovering upon the waters, what they met 
Solid or slimy, as in raging sea 
Tossed up and down, together crowded drove, 
From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell : 
As when two polar winds, blowing adverse 
Upon the Cronian sea, together drive 
Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way 



BOOK X. 245 

Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich 

Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil 

Death, with his mace petrinc, cold and dry, 

As with a trident smote, and fixed as firm 

As Delos, floating once ; the rest his look 

Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move ; 

And with asphaltic slime, broad as the gate, 

Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach 

They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on 3°° 

Over the foaming deep, high arched, a bridge 

Of length prodigious, joining to the wall 

Immovable of this now fenceless world, 

Forfeit to Death ; from hence a passage broad, 

Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell. 

So, if great things to small may be compared, 

Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke, 

From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, 

Came to the sea ; and, over Hellespont 

Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined, 3 10 

And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves. 

Now had they brought the work by wondrous art 

Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock, 

Over the vexed abyss, following the track 

Of Satan to the self-same place where he 

First lighted from his wing, and landed safe 

From out of Chaos, to the outside bare 

Of this round world : with pins of adamant 

And chains they made all fast, too fast they made, 

And durable ! and now in little space 3 20 

The confines met of empyrean Heaven, 

And of this world ; and, on the left hand, Hell 

With long reach interposed \ three several ways 



246 PARADISE LOST. 

In sight, to each of these three places led. 

And now their way to earth they had descried, 

To Paradise first tending ; when, behold ! 

Satan, in likeness of an angel bright, 

Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering 

His zenith, while the sun in Aries rose : 

Disguised he came, but those his children dear 33° 

Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise. 

He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk 

Into the wood fast by ; and, changing shape 

To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act 

By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded 

Upon her husband ; saw their shame that sought 

Vain covertures ; but when he saw descend 

The Son of God to judge them, terrified 

He fled, not hoping to escape, but shun 

The present ; fearing, guilty, what his wrath 34° 

Might suddenly inflict ; that past, returned 

By night, and listening where the hapless pair 

Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, 

Thence gathered his own doom, which understood 

Not instant, but of future time, with joy 

And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned ; 

And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot 

Of this new wondrous pontifice, unhoped 

Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear. 

Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight 35° 

Of that stupendous bridge his joy increased. 

Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair 

Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke : 

* " O parent, these are thy magnific deeds, 

Thy trophies, which thou view'st as not thine own ; 



BOOK X. 247 

Thou art their author and prime architect : 

For I no sooner in my heart divined, 

My heart, which by a secret harmony 

Still moves with thine, joined in connection sweet, 

That thou on earth hadst prospered, which thy looks 3 6 ° 

Now also evidence, but straight I felt, 

Though distant from thee worlds between, yet felt 

That I must after thee, with this thy son, 

Such fatal consequence unites us three : 

Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds, 

Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure 

Detain from following thy illustrious track. 

Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined 

Within Hell- gates till now ; thou us empowered 

To fortify thus far, and overlay, 37<> 

With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. 

Thine now is all this world ; thy virtue hath won 

What thy hands builded not ; thy wisdom gained 

With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged 

Our foil in Heaven ; here thou shalt monarch reign, 

There didst not ; there let him still victor sway, 

As battle hath adjudged, from this new world 

Retiring, by his own doom alienated ; 

And henceforth monarchy with thee divide, 

Of all things parted by the empyreal bounds, 3 8 ° 

His quadrature, from thy orbicular world, 

Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne. 1 * 

Whom thus the Prince of darkness answered glad : 
" Fair daughter, and thou son and grandchild both, 
High proof ye now have given to be the race 
Of Satan (for I glory in the name, 
Antagonist of Heaven's almighty King) ; 



248 PARADISE LOST. 

Amply have merited of me, of all 

The infernal empire, that so near Heaven's door 

Triumphal with triumphal act have met, 39° 

Mine, with this glorious work ; and made one realm 

Hell and this world, one realm, one continent 

Of easy thoroughfare. Therefore, while I 

Descend through darkness, on your road with ease, 

To my associate powers, them to acquaint 

With these successes, and with them rejoice ; 

You two this way, among these numerous orbs, 

All yours, right down to Paradise descend ; 

There dwell and reign in bliss ; thence on the earth 

Dominion exercise, and in the air, 4 00 

Chiefly on man, sole lord of all declared ; 

Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. 

My substitutes I send ye, and create 

Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might 

Issuing from me : on your joint vigor now 

My hold of this new kingdom all depends, 

Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit. 

If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell 

No detriment need fear; go, and be strong." 

So saying, he dismissed them; they with speed 410 
Their course through thickest constellations held, 
Spreading their bane ; the blasted stars looked wan ; 
And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse 
Then suffered. The other way Satan went down 
The causey to Hell-gate ; on either side 
Disparted Chaos, overbuilt, exclaimed, 
And with rebounding surge the bars assailed, 
That scorned his indignation : through the gate, 
Wide open and unguarded, Satan passed, 



BOOK X. 249 

And all about found desolate ; for those 4 20 

Appointed to sit there had left their charge, 

Flown to the upper world ; the rest were all 

Far to the inland retired, about the walls 

Of Pandemonium, city and proud seat 

Of Lucifer, so by allusion called 

Of that bright star to Satan paragoned. 

There kept their watch the legions, while the grand 

In council sat, solicitous what chance 

Might intercept their emperor sent ; so he, 

Departing, gave command, and they observed. 43° 

As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, 

By Astracan, over the snowy plains, 

Retires ; or Bactrian Sophi, from the horns 

Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond 

The realm of Aladule, in his retreat 

To Tauris or Casbeen : so these, the late 

Heaven-banished host, left desert utmost Hell 

Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch 

Round their metropolis, and now expecting 

Each hour their great adventurer from the search 44° 

Of foreign worlds ; he through the midst unmarked, 

In show plebeian angel militant 

Of lowest order, passed ; and from the door 

Of that Plutonian hall, invisible 

Ascended his high throne, which, under state 

Of richest texture spread, at the upper end 

Was placed in regal lustre. Down a while 

He sat, and round about him saw unseen : 

At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head 

And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter, clad 45° 

With what permissive glory since his fall 



250 



PARADISE LOST. 



Was left him, or false glitter ; all amazed 
At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng 
Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld, 
Their mighty chief returned : loud was the acclaim : 
Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, 
Raised from their dark divan, and with like joy 
Congratulant approached him, who with hand 
Silence, and with these words attention won : 

" Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers, 
For in possession such, not only of right, 461 

I call ye, and declare ye now ; returned 
Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth 
Triumphant out of this infernal pit 
Abominable, accursed, the house of woe, 
And dungeon of our tyrant : now possess, 
As lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven 
Little inferior, by my adventure hard 
With peril great achieved. Long were to tell 
What I have done, what suffered ; with what pain 47° 
Voyaged the unreal, vast, unbounded deep 
Of horrible confusion, over which 
By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved 
To expedite your glorious march ; but I 
Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride 
The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb 
Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild, 
That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed 
My journey strange, with clamorous uproar 
Protesting Fate supreme ; thence how I found 4 8 ° 

The new-created world, which fame in Heaven 
Long had foretold, a fabric wonderful, 
Of absolute perfection, therein man 



BOOK X. 251 

Placed in a Paradise, by our exile 

Made happy : him by fraud I have seduced 

From his Creator, and, the more to increase 

Your wonder, with an apple ; He, thereat 

Offended (worth your laughter) , hath given up 

Both his beloved man and all his world 

To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, 49° 

Without our hazard, labor, or alarm, 

To range in, and to dwell, and over man 

To rule, as over all he should have ruled. 

True is, me also he hath judged, or rather 

Me not, but the brute serpent in whose shape 

Man I deceived : that which to me belongs 

Is enmity, which he will put between 

Me and mankind ; I am to bruise his heel ; 

His seed (when, is not set) shall bruise my head : 

A world who would not purchase with a bruise, 5°° 

Or much more grievous pain? Ye have the account 

Of my performance : what remains, ye gods, 

But up and enter now into full bliss?" 

r So having said, a while he stood, expecting 

.Their universal shout and high applause 

>To fill his ear ; when, contrary, he hears 

(On all sides, from innumerable tongues, 

)A dismal universal hiss, the sound 
Of public scorn : he wondered, but not long 
Had leisure, wondering at himself now more ; 5 10 

His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare, 
His arms clung to his ribs, his legs intwining 
Each other, till supplanted down he fell 
A monstrous serpent on his belly prone, 
Reluctant, but in vain ; a greater power 



252 PARADISE LOST. 

Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned, 

According to his doom : he would have spoke, 

But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue 

To forked tongue ; for now were all transformed 

Alike, to serpents all, as accessories 5 2 ° 

To his bold riot : dreadful was the din 

Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now 

With complicated monsters head and tail, 

Scorpion, and asp, and amphisbaena dire, 

Cerastes horned, hydrus, and elops drear, 

And dipsas (not so thick swarmed once the soil 

Bedropped with blood of Gorgon, or the isle 

Ophiusa) ; but still greatest he the midst, 

Now dragon grown, larger than whom the sun 

Engendered in the Pythian vale on slime, 53° 

Huge Python, and his power no less he seemed 

Above the rest still to retain ; they all 

Him followed, issuing forth to the open field, 

Where all yet left of that revolted rout, 

Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array, 

Sublime with expectation when to see 

In triumph issuing forth their glorious chief; 

They saw, but other sight instead ! a crowd 

Of ugly serpents : horror on them fell, 

And horrid sympathy ; for what they saw, 54° 

They felt themselves now changing ; down their arms, 

Down fell both spear and shield ; down they as fast ; 

And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form 

Catched by contagion ; like in punishment, 

As in their crime. Thus was the applause they meant 

Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame, 

Cast on themselves from their own mouths. There stood 



BOOK X. 253 

A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change, 
His will who reigns above, to aggravate 
Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that 55° 

Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve 
Used by the tempter : on that prospect strange 
Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining 
For one forbidden tree a multitude 
Now risen, to work them further woe or shame ; 
Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce, 
Though to delude them sent, could not abstain, 
But on they rolled in heaps, and up the trees 
Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks 
That curled Megsera ; greedily they plucked 5 6 ° 

The fruitage fair to sight, like that which grew 
Near the bituminous lake where Sodom flamed ; 
This, more delusive, not the touch, but taste, 
Deceived ; they, fondly thinking to allay 
) Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit 
Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste 
With spattering noise rejected : oft they assayed, 
Hunger and thirst constraining ; drugged as oft, 
With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws, 
With soot and cinders filled ; so oft they fell S7° 

Into the same illusion, not as man 
Whom they triumphed once lapsed. Thus were they 

plagued 
And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, 
Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed ; 
Yearly enjoined, some say, to undergo 
This annual humbling certain numbered days, 
To dash their pride, and joy for man seduced. 
However, some tradition they dispersed 



254 PARADISE LOST. 

Among the heathen of their purchase got, 

And fabled how the serpent, whom they called 5 8 ° 

Ophion, with Eurynome, the wide 

Encroaching Eve, perhaps, had first the rule 

Of high Olympus, thence by Saturn driven, 

And Ops, ere yet Dictsean Jove was born* 

Meanwhile in Paradise the hellish pair 
Too soon arrived ; Sin, there in power before, 
Once actual, now in body, and to dwell 
Habitual habitant ; behind her Death 
Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet 
On his pale horse ; to whom Sin thus began : 59° 

" Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death, 
What think'st thou of our empire now ; though earned 
With travel difficult, not better far 
Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have set watch, 
Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half-starved?" 

Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered soon : 
" To me, who with eternal famine pine, 
Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven ; 
There best, where most with ravine I may meet ; 
Which here, though plenteous, all to little seems 6o ° 
To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corpse." 

To whom the incestuous mother thus replied : 
" Thou, therefore, on these herbs, and fruits, and flowers, 
Feed first ; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl ; 
No homely morsels ! and whatever thing 
The scythe of Time mows down, devour unspared ; 
Till I, in man residing, through the race, 
His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect, 
And season him thy last and sweetest prey." 
This said, they both betook them several ways, 6l ° 



BOOK X. 2$$ 

Both to destroy, or unimmortal make 
All kinds, and for destruction to mature 
Sooner or later ; which the Almighty seeing, 
From his transcendent seat the saints among, 
To those bright orders uttered thus his voice : 

" See with what heat these dogs of Hell advance 
To waste and havoc yonder world, which I 
So fair and good created, and had still 
Kept in that state, had not the folly of man 
Let in these wasteful furies, who impute 62 ° 

Folly to me ; so doth the prince of Hell 
And his adherents, that with so much ease 
I suffer them to enter and possess 
A place so heavenly ; and conniving seem 
To gratify my scornful enemies, 
That laugh, as if, transported with some fit 
Of passion, I to them had quitted all, 
At random yielded up to their misrule ; 
And know not that I called and drew them thither 
My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth 6 3° 

Which man's polluting sin with taint hath shed 
On what was pure, till, crammed and gorged nigh burst 
With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling 
Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son, 
Both Sin. and Death, and yawning grave, at last 
Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell 
Forever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. 
Then Heaven and earth, renewed, shall be made pure 
To sanctity, that shall receive no stain : 
Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes." 6 4° 

[Adam, hid in gloomiest shade, saw the effect of his sin on 
the cursed earth, and on the hitherto happy animal kingdom :] 



256 



PARADISE LOST. 



And, in a troubled sea of passion tossed, 
Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint : 

" Oh, miserable of happy ! is this the end 7 2 ° 

Of this new glorious world, and me so late 
The glory of that glory, who now become 
Accursed of blessed? Hide me from the face 
Of God, whom to behold was then my height 
Of happiness ! Yet well, if here would end 
The misery ; I deserved it, and would bear 
My own deservings ; but this will not serve : 
All that I eat or drink, or shall beget, 
Is propagated curse. O voice, once heard 
Delightfully, ' Increase and multiply,' 73° 

Now death to hear ! for what can I increase 
Or multiply but curses on my head ? 
Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling 
The evil on him brought by me, will curse 
My head ? ' 111 fare our ancestor impure ! 
For this we may thank Adam ; ' but his thanks 
Shall be the execration ; so, besides 
Mine own that bide upon me, all from me 
Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound ; 
On me, as on their natural centre, light 74° 

Heavy, though in their place. O fleeting joys 
Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes ! 
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay 
To mould me man ? did I solicit thee 
From darkness to promote me, or here place 
In this delicious garden ? As my will 
Concurred not to my being, it were but right 
And equal to reduce me to my dust, 
Desirous to resign and render back 



BOOK X. 257 

All I received, unable to perform 75° 

Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold 

The good I sought not. To the loss of that, 

Sufficient penalty ! why hast thou added 

The sense of endless woes ? Inexplicable 

Thy justice seems ; yet, to say truth, too late 

I thus contest ; then should have been refused 

Those terms, whatever, when they were proposed : 

Thou didst accept them. Wilt thou enjoy the good, 

Then cavil the conditions ? and though God 

Made thee without thy leave, what if thy son 760 

Prove disobedient ; and, reproved, retort, 

* Wherefore didst thou beget me ? I sought it not : ' 

Wouldst thou admit, for his contempt of thee, 

That proud excuse ? Yet him, not thy election, 

But natural necessity, begot. 

God made thee of choice his own, and of his own 

To serve him ; thy reward was of his grace ; 

Thy punishment then, justly, is at his will. 

Be it so, for I submit : his doom is fair ; 

That dust I am, and shall to dust return. 71° 

O welcome hour whenever ! Why delays 

His hand to execute what his decree 

Fixed on this day? Why do I over-live? 

Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out 

To deathless pain ? How gladly would I meet 

Mortality my sentence, and be earth 

Insensible ! how glad would lay me down 

As in my mother's lap ! There I should rest 

And sleep secure ; his dreadful voice no more 

Would thunder in my ears ; no fear of worse 780 

To me and to my offspring would torment me 



258 PARADISE LOST. 

With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt 

Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die ; 

Lest that pure breath of life, the spirit of man 

Which God inspired, cannot together perish 

With this corporeal clod ; then in the grave, 

Or in some other dismal place, who knows 

But I shall die a living death ? O thought 

Horrid, if true ! Yet why? It was but breath 

Of life that sinned : what dies but what had life 79° 

And sin ? The body properly had neither. 

All of me then shall die : let this appease 

The doubt, since human reach no further knows. 

For though the Lord of all be infinite, 

Is his wrath also ? Be it ; man is not so, 

But mortal doomed. How can he exercise 

Wrath without end on man whom death must end ? 

Can he make deathless death ? That were to make 

Strange contradiction, which to God himself 

Impossible is held, as argument 8o ° 

Of weakness, not of power. Will he draw out, 

For anger's sake, finite to infinite, 

In punished man, to satisfy his rigor, 

Satisfied never? That were to extend 

His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law, 

By which all causes else, according still 

To the reception of their matter, act, 

Not to the extent of their own sphere. But say 

That death be not one stroke, as I supposed, 

Bereaving sense, but endless misery 8to 

From this day onward, which I feel begun 

Both in me, and without me, and so last 

To perpetuity : ah me ! that fear 



1 



BOOK X. 259 

Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution 

On my defenceless head ; both Death and I 

Are found eternal, and incorporate both : 

Nor I on my part single ; in me all 

Posterity stands cursed. Fair patrimony 

That I must leave ye, sons. Oh, were I able 

To waste it all myself, and leave ye none ! 82 ° 

So disinherited, how would ye bless 

Me, now your curse ! Ah ! why should all mankind 

For one man's fault thus guiltless be condemned, 

If guiltless ? But from me what can proceed, 

But all corrupt ; both mind and will depraved, 

Not to do only, but to will the same 

With me ? How can they then acquitted stand 

In sight of God ? Him, after all disputes, 

Forced I absolve : all my evasions vain ; 

And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still 8 3° 

But to my own conviction : first and last 

On me, me only, as the source and spring 

Of all corruption, all the blame lights due ; 

So might the wrath ! Fond wish ! couldst thou support 

That burden, heavier than the earth to bear, 

Than all the world much heavier, though divided 

With that bad woman ? Thus what thou desirest, 

And what thou fear'st, alike destroys all hope 

Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable 

Beyond all past example and future, 8 4° 

To Satan only like both crime and doom. 

conscience ! into what abyss of fears 

And horrors hast thou driven me, out of which 

1 find no way, from deep to deeper plunged ! " 

Thus Adam to himself lamented loud, 



260 



PARADISE LOST. 



Through the still night ; not now, as ere man fell, 

Wholesome, and cool, and mild ; but with black air 

Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom, 

Which to his evil conscience represented 

All things with double terror : on the ground 8 5° 

Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground, and oft 

Cursed his creation ; death as oft accused 

Of tardy execution, since denounced 

The day of his offence. " Why comes not death," 

Said he, " with one thrice acceptable stroke 

To end me ? Shall Truth fail to keep her word ? 

Justice divine not hasten to be just? 

But death comes not at call ; Justice divine 

Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries. 

woods ! O fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers ! 86 ° 
With other echo late I taught your shades 

To answer, and resound far other song." 
Whom thus afflicted, when sad Eve beheld, 
Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh, 
Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed ; 
But her with stern regard he thus repelled : 

" Out of my sight, thou serpent ! that name best 
Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false 
And hateful ; nothing wants but that thy shape, 
Like his, and color serpentine, may show v ° 

Thy inward fraud, to warn all creatures from thee 
Henceforth ; lest that too heavenly form pretended 
To hellish falsehood snare them. But for thee 

1 had persisted happy ; had not thy pride 
And wandering vanity, when least was safe, 
Rejected my forewarning, and disdained 
Not to be trusted ; longing to be seen, 






BOOK X. 26l 

Though by the Devil himself; him overweening 
To over-reach ; but, with the serpent meeting, 
Fooled and beguiled ; by him thou, I by thee, 88 ° 

To trust thee from my side, imagined wise, 
Constant, mature, proof against all assaults ; 
And understood not all was but a show, 
Rather than solid virtue ; all but a rib, 
Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, 
More to the part sinister, from me drawn ; 
Well if thrown out, as supernumerary 
To my just number found. Oh ! why did God, 
Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven 
With spirits masculine, create at last 8 9° 

This novelty on earth, this fair defect 
Of nature, and not fill the world at once 
With men, as angels, without feminine ; 
Or find some other way to generate 
Mankind ? This mischief had not then befallen, 
And more that shall befall, innumerable 
Disturbances on earth through female snares, 
And strait conjunction with this sex : for either 
He never shall find out fit mate, but such 
As some misfortune brings him, or mistake ; 9 00 

Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain 
Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained 
By a far worse ; or, if she love, withheld 
By parents ; or his happiest choice too late 
Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound 
To a fell adversary, his hate or shame : 
Which infinite calamity shall cause 
To human life, and household peace confound. " 
He added not, and from her turned ; but Eve, 



262 PARADISE LOST. 

Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing, 9 X ° 

And tresses all disordered, at his feet 

Fell humble, and embracing them, besought 

His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint : 

" Forsake me not thus, Adam ! witness Heaven 
What love sincere and reverence in my heart 
I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, 
Unhappily deceived ! Thy suppliant 
I beg, and clasp thy knees ; bereave me not, 
Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, 
Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress, 9 20 

My only strength and stay ; forlorn of thee, 
Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? 
While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps, 
Between us two let there be peace ; both joining, 
As joined in injuries, one enmity 
Against a foe by doom express assigned us, 
That cruel serpent : on me exercise not 
Thy hatred for this misery befallen, 
On me already lost, me than myself 
More miserable. Both have sinned ; but thou 93° 
Against God only, I against God and thee ; 
And to the place of judgment will return, 
There with my cries importune Heaven, that all 
The sentence, from thy head removed, may light 
On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe, 
Me, me only, just object of his ire." 

She ended weeping ; and her lowly plight, 
Immovable till peace obtained from fault 
Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought 
Commiseration : soon his heart relented 94° 

Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight, 



BOOK X. . 263 

Now at his feet submissive in distress, 
Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, 
His counsel whom she had displeased, his aid ; 
As one disarmed, his anger all he lost, 
And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon : 

" Unwary, and too desirous, as before, 
So now of what thou know'st not, who desirest 
The punishment all on thyself; alas ! 
Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain 95° 

His full wrath, whose thou feel'st as yet least part, 
And my displeasure bear'st so ill. If prayers 
Could alter high decrees, I to that place 
Would speed before thee, and be louder heard, 
That on my head all might be visited ; 
Thy frailty and infirmer sex forgiven, 
To me committed and by me exposed. 
But rise ; let us no more contend, nor blame 
Each other, blamed enough elsewhere, but strive, 
In offices of love, how we may lighten 9 6 <> 

Each other's burden in our share of woe ; 
Since this day's death denounced, if aught I see, 
Will prove no sudden, but a slow-paced evil, 
A long day's dying to augment our pain, 
And to our seed (O hapless seed !) derived." . . . 
What better can we do, than, to the place 
Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall 
Before him reverent, and there confess 
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears 
Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air I0 9° 
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 
Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek? 
Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn 



264 



PARADISE LOST. 



From his displeasure ; in whose look serene, 
When angry most he seemed and most severe, 
What else but favor, grace, and mercy shone ? " 
r So spake our father penitent, nor Eve 
Felt less remorse : they, forthwith to the place 
Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell 
Before him reverent, and both confessed I] 

Humbly their faults, and pardon begged, with tears ' 
Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air 
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 
Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek. 



BOOKS XI. AND XII. 265 



BOOKS XL AND XII. 

[In Book XI. Christ the Intercessor presents their prayers to 
the Father. The prayers are accepted, and God says: — ] 

" I at first with two fair gifts 
Created him endowed, with happiness 
And immortality : that fondly lost, 
This other served but to eternize woe, 6o 

Till I provided death : so death becomes 
His final remedy, and after life 
Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined 
By faith and faithful works, to second life, 
Waked in the renovation of the just, 
Resigns him up with Heaven and earth renewed." 

[Hence Michael, with a band of cherubim, is sent to dispossess 
Adam and Eve of Paradise. Michael shows Adam in a vision 
how the sinful race will become so polluted that God must 
wash the unclean earth with a deluge. In Book XII. is shown 
how the life of faith will be begun in Abraham ; how the Seed 
of the woman by his incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and 
ascension, shall bruise the serpent's head ; and the state of the 
Church till the second coming of Christ. Adam is greatly 
comforted.] 

He ended ; and thus Adam last replied : 
" How soon hath thy prediction, seer blest, 
Measured this transient world, the race of time, 
Till time stand fixed ! Beyond is all abyss, 
Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. 
Greatly instructed I shall hence depart, 



266 PARADISE LOST. 

Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill 

Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain ; 

Beyond which was my folly to aspire. 5 60 

Henceforth I learn that to obey is best, 

And love with fear the only God; to' walk 

As in his presence, ever to observe 

His providence, and on him sole depend, 

Merciful over all his works, with good 

Still overcoming evil, and by small 

Accomplishing great things ; by things deemed weak 

Subverting worldly strong ; and worldly wise 

By simply meek : that suffering for truth's sake 

Is fortitude to highest victory, 57° 

And to the faithful death the gate of life ; 

Taught this by his example, whom I now 

Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest." 

To whom thus also the angel last replied : 
" This having learned, thou hast attained the sum 
Of wisdom : hope no higher, though all the stars 
Thou knew'st by name, and all the ethereal powers, 
All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, 
Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea, 
And all the riches of this world enjoyedst, 5 8 ° 

And all the rule, one empire ; only add 
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable ; add faith, 
Add virtue, patience, temperance ; add love, 
By name to come called charity, the soul 
Of all the rest : then wilt thou not be loath 
] To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess 
A Paradise within thee, happier far. 
Let us descend now, therefore, from this top 
Of speculation ; for the hour precise 



BOOK XII 267 

Exacts our parting hence ; and see, the guards, 59° 

By me encamped on yonder hill, expect 

Their motion, at whose front a flaming sword, 

In signal of remove, waves fiercely round ; 

We may no longer stay : go, waken Eve ; 

Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed, 

Portending good, and all her spirits composed 

To meek submission : thou at season fit 

Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard, 

Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, 

The great deliverance by her seed to come 6o ° 

(For by the woman's seed) on all mankind : 

That ye may live, which will be many days, 

Both in one faith unanimous, though sad, 

With cause, for evils past, yet much more cheered 

With meditation on the happy end." 

He ended, and they both descend the hill ; 
Descended, Adam to the bower where Eve 
Lay sleeping ran before, but found her waked ; 
And thus with words not sad she him received : 

u Whence thou return'st, and whither went'st, I know } 
For God is also in sleep ; and dreams advise, 6 " 

Which he hath sent propitious, some great good 
Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress 
Wearied I fell asleep : but now lead on ; 
In me is no delay ; with thee to go, 
Is to stay here ; without thee here to stay, 
Is to go hence unwilling ; thou to me 
Art all things under Heaven, all places thou, 
Who for my wilful crime art banished hence. 
This further consolation yet secure 620 

I carry hence ; though all by me is lost, 



268 PARADISE LOST, 

Such favor I unworthy am vouchsafed, 

By me the promised Seed shall all restore ! " 

So spake our mother Eve, and Adam heard, 
Well pleased, but answered not : for now too nigh 
The archangel stood ; and from the other hill 
To their fixed station, all in bright array, 
The cherubim descended ; on the ground, 
Gliding meteorous, as evening mist 
Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, 630 

And gathers ground fast at the laborer's heel, 
Homeward returning. High in front advanced, 
The brandished sword of God before them blazed, 
Fierce as a comet, which with torrid heat, 
And vapor as the Libyan air adust, 
Began to parch that temperate clime ; whereat 
In either hand the hastening angel caught 
Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate 
Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast 
To the subjected plain ; then disappeared. 6 4° 

They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld 
Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, 
Waved over by that flaming brand ; the gate, 
With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms : 
Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon ; 
The world was all before them, where to choose 
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide : 
They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, 
Through Eden took their solitary way. 



ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S 
NATIVITY. 1 

COMPOSED 1629.* 



I. 
This is the month, and this the happy morn, 
Wherein the Son of heaven's eternal King, 
Of wedded maid, and virgin mother born, 
Our great redemption from above did bring ; 
For so the holy sages once did sing, 

That he our deadly forfeit should release, 
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace. 

ii. 

That glorious form, that light insufferable, 
And that far beaming blaze of majesty 
Wherewith he wont at heaven's high council-table 
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, 
He laid aside ; and here with us to be, 

Forsook the courts of everlasting day, 
And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. 

1 " The strain heard in the ' Nativity Ode,' in ' Solemn Music,' and in 
' Lycidas ' is of a higher mood, as regards metrical construction, than any 
thing that had thrilled the English ear before; giving no uncertain augury of 
him who was to show what sonorous metal lay silent till he touched the keys 
in the epical organ-pipes of our various language that have never since felt 
the strain of such prevailing breath." — Lowell. 

2 Milton's twenty-first year. 

269 



270 HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. 

III. 
Say, heavenly muse, shall not thy sacred vein 
Afford a present to the Infant God ? 
Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, 
To welcome him to this his new abode, 
Now while the heaven, by the sun's team untrod, 

Hath took no print of the approaching light, 
And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons 
bright? 

IV. 

See how far upon the eastern road 

The star-led wizards haste with odors sweet : 

Oh, run, prevent them with thy humble ode, 

And lay it lowly at his blessed feet ; 

Have thou the honor first thy Lord to greet, 

And join thy voice unto the angel choir, 
From out his secret altar touched with hallowed fire. 1 

THE HYMN. 

It was the winter wild, 
While the Heaven-born child 

All meanly wrapped in the rude manger lies ; 
Nature in awe to him 
Had doffed her gaudy trim, 

With her great Master so to sympathize : 
It was no season then for her 
To wanton with the sun, her lusty paramour. 

Only with speeches fair 
She woos the gentle air 

To hide her guilty front with innocent snow, 

1 Isa. vi. 6, 7. 



HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. 2? I 

And on her naked shame, 
Pollute with sinful blame, 

The saintly veil of maiden white to throw, 
Confounded, that her Maker's eyes 
Should look so near upon her foul deformities. 

But he, her fears to cease, 

Sent down the meek-eyed Peace ; 

She, crowned with olive green, came softly sliding 
Down, through the turning sphere, 
His ready harbinger, 

With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 
And waving wide her myrtle wand, 
She strikes an universal peace through sea and land. 

No war, or battle's sound, 
Was heard the world around : 

The idle spear and shield were high up hung ; 
The hooked chariot stood, 
Unstained with hostile blood ; 

The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, 
And kings sat still with awful eye, 
As if they surely knew their sovereign Lord was by. 

( But peaceful was the night 
' Wherein the Prince of light 

His reign of peace upon the earth began : 
The winds with wonder whist 
Smoothly the waters kissed, 

Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, 
Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 
While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave. 



2j2 HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. 

The stars with deep amaze 
Stand fixed in steadfast gaze, 

Bending one way their precious influence, 
And will not take their flight, 
For all the morning light, 

Or Lucifer that often warned them thence : 
But in their glimmering orbs did glow, 
Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. 

And though the shady gloom 
Had given day her room, 

The sun himself withheld his wonted speed, 
And hid his head for shame, 
As his inferior flame 

The new enlightened world no more should need ; 
He saw a greater Sun appear 
Than his bright throne, or burning axletree, could bear. 

The shepherds on the lawn, 
Or e'er the point of dawn, 

Sat simply chatting in a rustic row ; 
Full little thought they then, 
That the mighty Pan 

Was kindly come to live with them below ; 
Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, 
Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. 

When such music sweet 

Their hearts and ears did greet, 

As never was by mortal finger strook, 
Divinely-warbled voice 
Answering the stringed noise, 



HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. 273 

As all their souls in blissful rapture took : 
The air, such pleasure loth to lose, 
With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. 

Nature that heard such sound, 
Beneath the hollow round 

Of Cynthia's seat, the airy region thrilling, 
Now was almost won 
To think her part was done, 

And that her reign had here its last fulfilling ; 
She knew such harmony alone 
Could hold all heaven and earth in happier union. 

At last surrounds their sight 
A globe of circular light, 

That with long beams the shame-faced night arrayed ; 
The helmed cherubim, 
And sworded seraphim, 

Are seen in glittering ranks with wings displayed, 
Harping in loud and solemn choir, 
With unexpressive notes to heaven's new-born Heir. 

Such music (as 'tis said) 
Before was never made, 

But when of old the sons of morning sung, 1 
While the Creator great 
His constellations set, 

And the well-balanced world on hinges hung, 
And cast the dark foundations deep, 
And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep. 

1 Job xxxviii. 7. 



274 HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. 

Ring out, ye crystal spheres, 
Once bless our human ears 

(If ye have power to touch our senses so), 
And let your silver chime 
Move in melodious time, 

And let the base of heaven's deep organ blow ; 
And with your ninefold harmony 
Make up full consort to the angelic symphony. 

For if such holy song 
Enwrap our fancy long, 

Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold, 
And speckled Vanity 
Will sicken soon and die, 

And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mould, 
And hell itself will pass away, 
And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. 

Yea, Truth and Justice then 
Will down return to men, 

Orbed in a rainbow ; and like glories wearing 
Mercy will sit between, 
Throned in celestial sheen, 

With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering, 
And heaven as at some festival, 
Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall. 

But wisest Fate says no, 
This must not yet be so, 

The babe lies yet in smiling infancy, 
That on the bitter cross 
Must redeem our loss ; 



HYMN ON THE NATIVITY, 275 

So both himself and us to glorify : 
Yet first to those ychained in sleep, 
The wakeful trump of doom must thunder through the 
deep, 

With such a horrid clang 
As on Mount Sinai rang, 

While the red fire and smouldering clouds out brake ; 
The aged earth aghast, 
With terror of that blast, 

Shall from the surface to the centre shake ; 
When at the world's last session, 

The dreadful Judge in middle air shall spread his 
throne. 

And then at last our bliss 
Full and perfect is, 

But now begins ; for, from this happy day, 
The old Dragon, underground 
In straifeer limits bound, 

Not half so far casts his usurped sway, 
And wroth to see his kingdom fail, 
Swinges the scaly horror of his folded tail. 

The oracles are dumb, 
No voice or hideous hum 

Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving ; 
Apollo from his shrine 
Can no more divine, 

With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving. 
No nightly trance, or breathed spell, 
Inspires the pale -eyed priest from the prophetic cell. 



276 HYMN ON THE NATIVITY, 

The lonely mountains o'er, 
And the resounding shore, 

A voice of weeping heard, and loud lament ; 
From haunted spring, and dale 
Edged with poplar pale, 

The parting genius is with sighing sent ; 
With flower-inwoven tresses torn 
The nymphs in twilight shade of tangled thickets mourn. 

In consecrated earth, 
And on the holy hearth, 

The Lars l and Lemures 2 moan with midnight plaint ; 
In urns, and altars round, 
A drear and dying sound 

Affrights the Flamens at their service quaint ; 
And the chill marble seems to sweat, 
While each peculiar power foregoes his wonted seat. 

Peor and Baalim 

Forsake their temples dim, * 

With that twice battered god of Palestine, 3 
And mooned Ashtaroth, 
Heaven's queen and mother both, 

Now sits not girt with tapers' holy shine ; 
The Lybic Hammon shrinks his horn, 
In vain the Tyrian maids their wounded Thammuz 
mourn. 

And sullen Moloch fled, 
Hath left in shadows dread 

His burning idol all of blackest hue ; 

1 Household gods. 2 Night spirits; ghosts. 3 Dagon. See Judg. 
xvi., and 1 Sam. v. 



HYMN ON THE NATIVITY, 277 

In vain with cymbals ring 
They call the grisly king, 

In dismal dance about the furnace blue, 
The brutish gods of Nile as fast, 
Isis, and Orus, and the dog Anubis, haste. 

Nor is Osiris seen 

In Memphian grove or green, 

Trampling the unshowered grass with lowings loud, 
Nor can he be at rest 
Within his sacred chest, 

Nought but profoundest hell can be his shroud ; 
In vain with timbrelled anthems dark 
The sable-stoled sorcerers bear his worshipped ark. 

He feels from Juda's land 
The dreaded Infant's hand, 

The rays of Bethlehem blind his dusky eyn ; 
Nor all the gods beside, 
Longer dare abide, 

Not Typhon huge ending in snaky twine ; 
Our Babe, to show his Godhead true, 
Can in his swaddling bands control the damned crew. 

So when the Sun in bed, 
Curtained with cloudy red, 

Pillows his chin upon an orient wave, 
The flocking shadows pale, 
Troop to the infernal jail, 

Each fettered ghost slips to his several grave, 
And the yellow-skirted fays 

Fly after the night-steeds, leaving their moon-loved 
maze. 






278 



HYMN ON THE NATIVITY. 



But see the virgin blest 
Hath laid her Babe to rest, 

Time is our tedious song should here have ending : 
Heaven's youngest teemed star 
Hath fixed her polished car, 

Her sleeping Lord with handmaid lamp attending : 
And all about the courtly stable 
Bright-harnessed * angels sit in order serviceable. 

1 Equipped. 



AT A SOLEMN MUSIC. 

Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven's joy, 
Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse, 
Wed your divine sounds, and mixed power employ, 
Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce, 
And to our high- raised fantasy present 
That undisturbed song of pure concent, 
Aye sung before the sapphire-colored throne 
To him that sits thereon, 
With saintly shout, and solemn jubilee, 
Where the bright seraphim in burning row 
Their loud uplifted angel- trumpets blow, 
And the cherubic host in thousand choirs 
Touch their immortal harps of golden wires, 
With those just spirits that wear victorious palms, 
Hymns devout and holy psalms 
Singing everlastingly ; 
That we on earth with undiscording voice 
May rightly answer that melodious noise, 
As once we did, till disproportioned sin 
Jarred against nature's chime, and with harsh din 
Broke the fair music that all creatures made 
To their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed 
In perfect diapason, whilst they stood 
In first obedience, and their state of good. 
Oh, may we soon again renew that song, 
And keep in tune with Heaven, till God ere long 
To his celestial consort us unite, 
To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light. 

279 



LYCIDAS. 1 

[In this monody the author bewails a learned friend, Mr. 
Edward King, who was unfortunately drowned in his passage 
from Chester on the Irish seas, 1637, and by occasion foretells 
the ruin of our corrupted clergy, then in their height.] 

Yet once more, 2 O ye laurels ! and once more 
Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere, 
I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude, 
And with forced fingers rude 
Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. 
Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear, 
Compels me to disturb your season due ; 
For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime, 
Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer : 
Who would not sing for Lycidas ? He knew 
Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme. 
He must not float upon his watery bier 
Unwept, and welter to the parching wind, 
Without the meed of some melodious tear. 

Begin then, sisters, of the sacred well, 
That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring ; 
Begin, and somewhat loudly sweep the string 

1 " It has been said, I think very fairly, that Lycidas is a good test of real 
feeling for what is peculiarly called poetry. Many, or perhaps we might say 
most readers, do not taste its excellence. Lycidas is not so much in the 
nature of an allegory as of a masque ; the characters pass before our eyes in 
imagination, as on the stage: they are chiefly mythological, but not creations 
of the poet." — Hallam. 

2 Milton had written no poems for three years. 

280 



LYCIDAS. 28l 

Hence with denial vain, and coy excuse, 

So may some gentle muse 

With lucky words favor my destined urn, 

And, as he passes, turn 

And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud : 

For we were nursed upon the self-same hill, 

Fed the same flock by fountain, shade, and rill. 

Together both, ere the high lawns appeared 
Under the opening eyelids of the morn, 
We drove afield, and both together heard 
What time the gray fly winds her sultry horn, 
Battening our flocks with the fresh dews of night, 
Oft till the star that rose, at evening, bright, 
Toward heaven's descent had sloped his westering 

wheel. 
Meanwhile the rural ditties were not mute, 
Tempered to the oaten flute ; 
Rough satyrs danced, and fauns with cloven heel 
From the glad sound would not be absent long, 
And old Damaetus ' loved to hear our song. 

But oh, the heavy change, now thou art gone, 
Now thou art gone, and never must return ! 
Thee, shepherd, thee the woods, and desert caves 
With wild thyme and the gadding vine o'ergrown, 
And all their echoes mourn. 
The willows, and the hazel copses green, 
Shall now no more be seen, 
Fanning their joyous leaves to thy soft lays. 
As killing as the canker to the rose, 
Or taint-worm to the weanling herds that graze, 

1 He probably means Dr. William Chappel, who had been tutor to them 
both, and afterwards became bishop of Cork and Ross. 



282 LYCIDAS. 

Or frost to flowers, that their gay wardrobe wear, 
When first the white-thorn blows ; 
Such, Lycidas, thy loss to shepherd's ear. 

Where were ye, nymphs, when the remorseless deep 
Closed o'er the head of your loved Lycidas? 
For neither were ye playing on the steep, 
Where your old bards, the famous Druids, lie ; 
Nor on the shaggy top of Mona l high, 
Nor yet where Deva 2 spreads her wizard stream : 
Ay me ! I fondly dream 

Had ye been there, for what could that have done ? 
What could the muse herself that Orpheus bore, 
The muse herself for her enchanting son, 
Whom universal Nature did lament, 
When by the rout that made the hideous roar, 
His gory visage down the stream was sent, 
Down the swift Hebrus to the Lesbian shore? 

Alas ! what boots it with incessant care 
To tend the homely slighted shepherd's trade, 
And strictly meditate the thankless muse ? 
Were it not better done as others use, 
To sport with Amaryllis in the shade, 
Or with the tangles of Neaera's hair ? 
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise 
(That last infirmity of noble mind) 
To scorn delights, and live laborious days, 
But the fair guerdon when we hope to find, 
And think to burst out into sudden blaze, 
Comes the blind fury with the abhorred shears, 
And slits the thin-spun life. " But not the praise," 

1 The Isle of Anglesea. 

2 The River Dee. The word " Deva " is supposed to mean " divine." 






I 



LYCIDAS. 283 

Phoebus replied, and touched my trembling ears ; 

" Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil, 

Nor in the glistering foil 

Set off to the world, nor in broad rumor lies, 

But lives and spreads aloft by those pure eyes, 

And perfect witness of all-judging Jove ; 

As he pronounces lastly on each deed, 

Of so much fame in heaven expect thy meed." 

fountain Arethuse, 1 and thou honored flood, 
Smooth-sliding Mincius, crowned with vocal reeds, 
That strain I heard was of a higher mood : 

But now my oat proceeds, 

And listens to the herald of the sea 

That came in Neptune's plea ; 

He asked the waves, and asked the felon winds, 

What hard mishap had doomed this gentle swain? 

And questioned every gust of rugged wings, 

That blows from off each beaked promontory : 

They knew not of his story, 

And sage Hippotades 2 their answer brings, 

That not a blast was from his dungeon strayed, 

The air was calm, and on the level brine 

Sleek Panope with all her sisters played. 

It was that fatal and perfidious bark 

Built in the eclipse, and rigged with curses dark, 

That sunk so low that sacred head of thine. 

Next Camus, 3 reverend sire, went footing slow, 
His mantle hairy, and his bonnet sedge, 

1 Now Phoebus, whose strain was of a higher mood, has done speaking, he 
invokes the fountain Arethuse of Sicily, the country of Theocritus, and 
Mincius, the river of Mantua, Virgil's country, in compliment to those poets. 

2 iEolus, the son of Hippotas. 

3 The Cam, the river of Cambridge. 



284 



L YCIDAS. 



Inwrought with figures dim, and on the edge, 

Like to that sanguine flower inscribed with woe. 1 

" Ah ! who hath reft," quoth he, "my dearest pledge?" 

Last came, and last did go, 

The pilot of the Galilean lake, 

Two massy keys he bore, of metals twain 

(The golden opes, the iron shuts amain), 

He shook his mitred locks, and stern bespake : 

" How well could I have spared for thee, young swain, 

Enow of such as for their bellies' sake 

Creep, and intrude, and climb into the fold ! 

Of other care they little reckoning make, 

Than how to scramble at the shearer's feast, 

And shove away the worthy bidden guest ; 

Blind mouths ! that scarce themselves know how to hold 

A sheep-hook, or have learned aught else the least 

That to the faithful herdsman's art belongs ! 

What recks it them ! What need they ? They are sped : 

And when they list, their lean and flashy songs 

Grate on their scrannel 2 pipes of wretched straw ; 

The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed, 

But swollen with wind, and the rank mist they draw, 

Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread : 

Besides what the grim wolf with privy paw 

Daily devours apace, and nothing said. 

But that two-handed engine at the door 

Stands ready to smite Once, and smite no more." 

Return, Alpheus, the dread voice is past, 
That shrunk thy streams ; return, Sicilian muse, 
And call the vales, and bid them hither cast 

1 Meaning the hyacinth, the leaves of which were supposed to be marked 
with the mournful letters At, At. Cf. Ovid, Met. x. 210 sqq. 

2 Probably equivalent to the Latin " stridens," creaking, piercing. 



LYCIDAS. 285 

Their bells and flowerets of a thousand hues. 

Ye valleys low, where the mild whispers use 

Of shades, and wanton winds, and gushing brooks, 

On whose fresh lap the swart star sparely looks, 

Throw hither all your quaint enamelled eyes, 

That on the green turf suck the honeyed showers, 

And purple all the ground with vernal flowers. 

Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies, 

The tufted crow- toe, and pale jessamine, 

The white pink, and the pansy freaked with jet, 

The glowing violet, 

The musk-rose and the well- attired woodbine, 

With cowslips wan that hang the pensive head, 

And every flower that sad embroidery wears : 

Bid amaranthus all his beauty shed, 

And daffodillies fill their cups with tears, 

To strow the laureate hearse where Lycid lies. 

For so to interpose a little ease, 

Let our frail thoughts dally with false surmise. 

Ay me ! whilst thee the shores and sounding seas 

Wash far away, where ere thy bones are hurled, 

Whether beyond the stormy Hebrides, 

Where thou, perhaps, under the whelming tide 

Visit'st the bottom of the monstrous world ; 

Or whether thou to our moist vows denied, 

Sleep'st by the fable of Bellerus r old, 

Where the great vision of the guarded mount 

Looks toward Namancos and Bayona's 2 hold ; 

1 Probably Bellerus, one of the Cornish giants, fabulously supposed to 
dwell at the Land's End. 

2 " A watch-tower and lighthouse formerly stood on the promontory called 
the Land's End, and looked, as Orosius says, towards another high tower at 
Brigantia in Gallicia, and consequently towards Bayona's Hold." — Newton. 



286 



LYCIDAS. 



Look homeward, angel now, and melt with ruth ; * 
And, O ye dolphins, 2 waft the hapless youth. 

Weep no more, woeful shepherds, weep no more, 
For Lycidas your sorrow is not dead, 
Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor ; 
So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed, 
And yet anon repairs his drooping head, 
And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore 
Flames in the forehead of the morning sky : 
So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high, 
Through the dear might of Him that walked the waves. 
Where other groves and other streams along, 
With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves, 
And hears the unexpressive nuptial song, 
In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love. 
There entertain him all the saints above, 
In solemn troops, and sweet societies, 
That sing, and singing in their glory move, 
And wipe the tears forever from his eyes. 
Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more ; 
Henceforth thou art the genius of the shore, 
In thy large recompense, and shalt be good 
To all that wander in that perilous flood. 

Thus sang the uncouth swain to the oaks and rills, 
While the still morn went out with sandals gray ; 
He touched the tender spots of various quills, 
With eager thought warbling his Doric lay : 
And now the sun had stretched out all the hills, 
And now was dropped into the western bay ; 
At last he rose, and twitched his mantle blue : 
To-morrow to fresh woods, and pastures new. 

i Pity. 

2 A dolphin is said to have carried the body of Palsemon to the shore of 
Corinth, where he was deified. 



L'ALLEGRO. 1 

Hence, loathed Melancholy, 

Of Cerberus 2 and blackest Midnight born, 
In Stygian cave forlorn, 

'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy, 
Find out some uncouth cell, 

Where brooding Darkness spreads his jealous wings, 
And the night raven sings ; 

There under ebon shades, and low-browed rocks, 
As ragged as thy locks, 

In dark Cimmerian 3 desert ever dwell. 
But come thou goddess fair and free, 
In Heaven ycleped Euphrosyne, 
And by men, heart-easing Mirth, 
Whom lovely Venus at a birth 
With two sister Graces more 
To ivy-crowned Bacchus bore ; 
Or whether (as some sages sing) 
The frolic wind that breathes the spring, 
Zephyr with Aurora playing, 

1 " This and the following poem are exquisitely beautiful in themselves, but 
appear much more beautiful when they are considered as they were written, 
in contrast with each other. There is a great variety of pleasing images in 
each of them ; and it is remarkable that the poet represents several of the 
same objects as exciting both mirth and melancholy, and affecting us differ- 
ently according to the different dispositions and affections of the soul. This 
is nature and experience." — Newton. 

2 Erebus is more agreeable to mythology. 

3 The Cimmerians lived in caves, and never saw the light of the sun. 

287 



288 VALLEGRO. 

As he met her once a-maying, 

There on beds of violets blue, 

And fresh-blown roses washed in dew, 

Filled her with thee a daughter fair, 

So buxom, blithe, and debonair. 

Haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee 

Jest and youthful jollity, 

Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles, 

Nods, and becks, and wreathed smiles, 

Such as hang on Hebe's cheek, 

And love to live in dimple sleek ; 

Sport that wrinkled Care derides, 

And Laughter holding both his sides. 

Come, and trip it as you go 

On the light fantastic toe, 

And in thy right hand lead with thee, 

The mountain nymph, 1 sweet Liberty ; 

And if I give thee honor due, 

Mirth, admit me of thy crew, 

To live with her, and live with thee, 

In unreproved pleasures free ; 

To hear the lark begin his flight, 

And singing startle the dull night, 

From his watch-tower in the skies, 

Till the dappled dawn doth rise ; 

Then to come in spite of sorrow, 

And at my window bid good-morrow, 

Through the sweet-briar, or the vine, 

Or the twisted eglantine : 

While the cock with lively din 

Scatters the rear of darkness thin, 

1 Mountain people have preserved their liberty longest. 



VALLEGRO. 289 

And to the stack, or the barn-door, 

Stoutly struts his dames before : 

Oft listening how the hounds and horn 

Cheerly rouse the slumbering morn, 

From the side of some hoar hill, 

Through the high wood echoing shrill : 

Some time walking not unseen 

By hedge-row elms, on hillocks green, 

Right against the eastern gate, 

Where the great sun begins his state, 

Robed in flames and amber light, 

The clouds in thousand liveries dight ; 

While the ploughman near at hand 

Whistles o'er the furrowed land, 

And the milkmaid singeth blithe, 

And the mower whets his scythe, 

And every shepherd tells his tale 

Under the hawthorn in the dale. 

Straight mine eye hath caught new pleasures 

Whilst the landskip round it measures, 

Russet lawns, and fallows gray, 

Where the nibbling flocks do stray, 

Mountains on whose barren breast 

The laboring clouds do often rest, 

Meadows trim with daisies pied, 

Shallow brooks, and rivers wide, 

Towers and battlements it sees 

Bosomed high in tufted trees, 

Where perhaps some beauty lies, 

The cynosure of neighboring eyes. 

Hard by, a cottage chimney smokes, 

From betwixt two aged oaks, 



29O VALLEGRO. 

Where Corydon and Thyrsis met, 

Are at their savory dinner set 

Of herbs and other country messes, 

Which the neat-handed Phillis dresses ; 

And then in haste her bower she leaves, 

With Thestylis to bind the sheaves ; . 

Or if the earlier season lead 

To the tanned haycock in the mead. 

Sometimes with secure delight 

The upland hamlets will invite, 

When the merry bells ring round, 

And the jocund rebecks sound 

To many a youth, and many a maid, 

Dancing in the chequered shade ; 

And young and old come forth to play 

On a sunshine holy-day, 

Till the livelong daylight fail ; 

Then to the spicy nut-brown ale, 

With stories told of many a feat, 

How fairy Mab the junkets eat, 

She was pinched, and pulled, she said, 

And he by friars' lanthorn led, 

Tells how the drudging goblin sweat, 

To earn his cream bowl duly set, 1 

When in one night, ere glimpse of morn, 

His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn, 

That ten day-laborers could not end ; 

Then lies him down the lubber fiend, 

And stretched out all the chimney's length, 

Basks at the fire his hairy strength, 

1 " Your grand-dames, maids, were wont to set a bowl of milk for him, 
for his pains in grinding of malt or mustard, and sweeping the house at mid- 
night — his white bread and milk was his standing fee." — Scott. 



V ALLEGRO. 29 1 

And crop-full out of doors he flings, 
Ere the first cock his matin rings. 
Thus done the tales, to bed they creep, 
By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. 
Towered cities please us then, 
And the busy hum of men, 
Where throngs of knights and barons bold 
In weeds of peace high triumphs hold, 
With store of ladies, whose bright eyes 
Rain influence, and judge the prize 
Of wit, or arms, while both contend 
To win her grace, whom all commend. 
There let Hymen oft appear 
In saffron robe with taper clear, 
And pomp, and feast, and revelry, 
With mask, and antique pageantry ; 
Such sights as youthful poets dream 
On summer eves by haunted stream. 
Then to the well- trod stage anon, 
If Jonson's learned sock be on, 
Or sweetest Shakspeare, Fancy's child, 
Warble his native wood-notes wild. 
And ever against eating cares, 
Lap me in soft Lydian airs, 
Married to immortal verse, 
Such as the meeting soul may pierce 
In notes, with many a winding bout 
Of linked sweetness long drawn out, 
With wanton heed, and giddy cunning, 
The melting voice through mazes running, 
Untwisting all the chains that tie 
The hidden soul of harmony ; 



292 VALLEEGRO. 

That Orpheus' self may heave his head 
From golden slumber on a bed 
Of heaped Elysian flowers, and hear 
Such strains as would have won the ear 
Of Pluto, to have quite set free 
His half regained Eurydice. 
These delights, if thou canst give, 
Mirth, with thee I mean to live. 



IL PENSEROSO. 

Hence, vain deluding joys, 

The brood of folly without father bred ! 
How little you bestead, 

Or fill the fixed mind with all your toys ! 
Dwell in some idle brain, 

And fancies fond with gaudy shapes possess, 
As thick and numberless 

As the gay motes that people the sunbeams, 
Or likest hovering dreams, 

The fickle pensioners of Morpheus' train. 
But hail thou goddess, sage and holy, 
Hail, divinest Melancholy, 
Whose saintly visage is too bright 
To hit the sense of human sight, 
And therefore to our weaker view, 
O'erlaid with black, staid Wisdom's hue ; 
Black, but such as in esteem 
Prince Memnon's * sister might beseem, 
Or that starred Ethiop queen 2 that strove 
To set her beauty's praise above 
The sea-nymphs, and their powers offended : 
Yet thou art higher far descended ; 
Thee, bright-haired Vesta long of yore 
To solitary Saturn bore : 

1 Son of Tithonus, by Aurora, and king of Ethiopia. He was slain by 
Achilles when coming to the assistance of Priam, at the siege of Troy. 

2 Cassiopeia, wife of Cepheus. 

2 93 



294 IL PENSEROSO. 

His daughter she (in Saturn's reign, 
Such mixture was not held a stain). 
Oft in glimmering bowers and glades 
He met her, and in secret shades 
Of woody Ida's inmost grove, 
While yet there was no fear of Jove. 
Come, 1 pensive nun, devout and pure, 
Sober, steadfast, and demure, 
All in a robe of darkest grain, 
Flowing with majestic train, 
And sable stole of Cyprus lawn, 
Over thy decent shoulders drawn. 
Come, but keep thy wonted state, 
With even step, and musing gait, 
And looks commercing with the skies, 
Thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes : 
There, held in holy passion still, 
Forget thyself to marble, till 
With a sad leaden downward cast 
Thou fix them on the earth as fast : 
And join with thee calm Peace, and Quiet, 
Spare Fast, that oft with gods doth diet, 
And hear the muses in a ring 
Aye round about Jove's altar sing ; 
And add to these retired Leisure, 
That in trim gardens takes his pleasure ; 
But first, and chiefest, with thee bring 
Him that yon soars on golden wing, 
Guiding the fiery- wheeled throne, 
The cherub Contemplation ; 
And the mute Silence hist along, 
'Less Philomel will deign a song, 



IL PENSEROSO. 295 

In her sweetest, saddest plight, 

Smoothing the rugged brow of night, 

While Cynthia checks her dragon yoke, 

Gently o'er the accustomed oak ; 

Sweet bird that shunn'st the noise of folly, 

Most musical, most melancholy ! 

Thee, chantress, oft the woods among 

I woo to hear thy even-song ; 

And missing thee, I walk unseen 

On the dry smooth-shaven green, 

To behold the wandering moon, 

Riding near her highest noon, 

Like one that had been led astray 

Through the heaven's wide pathless way, 

And oft, as if her head she bowed, 

Stooping through a fleecy cloud. 

Oft on a plat of rising ground, 

I hear the far-off curfew sound, 

Over some wide-watered shore, 

Swinging slow with sullen roar ; _^- 

Or if the air will not permit, 

Some still removed place will fit, 

Where glowing embers through the room 

Teach light to counterfeit a gloom ; 

Far from all resort of mirth, 

Save the cricket on the hearth, 

Or the bellman's drowsy charm, 

To bless the doors from nightly harm ; 

Or let my lamp at midnight hour, 

Be seen in some high lonely tower, 

Where I may oft outwatch the Bear, 1 

1 A constellation which never sets. 



296 IL PENSEROSO. 

With thrice great Hermes, or unsphere 
The spirit of Plato to unfold 
What worlds, or what vast regions hold 
The immortal mind that hath forsook 
Her mansion in this fleshly nook : 
And of these demons that are found 
In fire, air, flood, or under ground, 
Whose power hath a true consent 
With planet or with element. 
Sometime let gorgeous tragedy 
In sceptred pall come sweeping by, 
Presenting ' Thebes, or Pelops' line, 
Or the tale of Troy divine ; 
Or what (though rare) of later age 
Ennobled hath the buskined stage, _ 
But oh, sad virgin, that thy power 
Might raise Musaeus from his bower ! 
Or bid the soul of Orpheus sing 
Such notes as warbled to the string 
Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek, 
And made Hell grant what love did seek. 
Or call up him that left half told 
The story of Cambuscan bold, 
Of Camball, and of Algarsife, 
And who had Canace to wife, 
That owned the virtuous ring and glass, 
And of the wonderous horse of brass, 
On which the Tartar king did ride ; 
And if aught else great bards beside 
In sage and solemn tunes have sung, 

x i.e. representing. These subjects were favorite topics with the Greek 
tragedians. 



IL PENSEROSO. 297 

Of turneys and of trophies hung, 

Of forests and enchantments drear, 

Where more is meant than meets the ear. 

Thus Night oft see me in thy pale career, 

Till civil-suited Morn appear, 

Not tricked and frounced as she was wont 

With the Attic boy to hunt, 

But kerchiefed in a comely cloud, 

While rocking winds are piping loud, 

Or ushered with a shower still, 

When the gust hath blown his fill, 

Ending on the rustling leaves, 

With minute drops from off the eaves. 

And when the sun begins to fling 

His flaring beams, me, goddess, bring 

To arched walks of twilight groves, 

And shadows brown, that Sylvan loves, 

Of pine, or monumental oak, 

Where the rude axe with heaved stroke 

Was never heard the nymphs to daunt, 

Or fright them from their hallowed haunt. 

There in close covert by some brook, 

Where no profaner eye may look, 

Hide me from Day's garish eye, 

While the bee with honeyed thigh, 

That at her flowery work doth sing, 

And the waters murmuring, 

With such consort as they keep, 

Entice the dewy-feathered sleep ; 

And let some strange mysterious dream 

Wave at his wings in airy stream 

Of lively portraiture displayed, 



298 



IL PENSEROSO. 



Softly on my eyelids laid. 

And as I wake, sweet music breathe 

Above, about, or underneath, 

Sent by some spirit to mortals good, 

Or the unseen genius of the wood. 

But let my due feet never fail 

To walk the studious cloister's pale, 

And love the high embowed roof, 

With antic pillars massy proof, 

And storied windows richly dight, 

Casting a dim religious light. 

There let the pealing organ blow, 1 

To the full-voiced choir below, 

In service high and anthems clear, 

As may with sweetness, through mine ear, 

Dissolve me into ecstasies, 

And bring all heaven before mine eyes. 

And may at last my weary age 

Find out the peaceful hermitage, 

The hairy gown and mossy cell, 

Where I may sit and rightly spell 

Of every star that heaven doth show, 

And every herb that sips the dew ; 

Till old experience do attain 

To something like prophetic strain. 

These pleasures, Melancholy, give, 

And I with thee will choose to live. 



1 " This shows that Milton did not run into the enthusiastic madness of 
that fanatic age against church music." — Thyer. 



SONNETS. 



The following four sonnets show the personal char- 
acteristics of Milton. The first, "On Cromwell/' re- 
veals his appreciation of that "chief of men" in the 
midst of " detractions rude/' and of the necessity of 
further combat, for 

" Peace hath her victories 
No less renowned than War." 

It is the same spirit that made Milton infamous be- 
fore he was famous as the defender of the regicide. 

The second, " On the late Massacre in Piedmont/' 
shows him as a great Protestant, sympathizing with 
religious liberty. It is sublime in the fact that the 
vengeance asked for is the spread of the truth, that 
those slaughterers may fly woe. 

The third, " On his Blindness/' is unapproachable 
in patient submission, and the clearer vision of faith. 

The fourth, "On his Deceased Wife," shows that 
the great mind that wrote a Defence of the People, 
and lifted up a clarion voice for distant nations, was 
associated with a heart tender as a woman feeling in 
the night for a lost child. 

299 



300 SONNETS. 

TO THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL. 

Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud, 
Not of war only, but detractions rude, 
Guided by faith and matchless fortitude, 
To peace and truth thy glorious way hast ploughed, 
And on the neck of crowned Fortune proud 

Hast reared God's trophies, and his work pursued, 
While Darwen stream, with blood of Scots imbued, 
And Dunbar's field resounds thy praises loud, 
And Worcester's laureate wreath. Yet much remains 
To conquer still ; Peace hath her victories 
No less renowned than War : new foes arise 
Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains. 
Help us to save free conscience from the paw 
Of hireling wolves, whose gospel is their maw. 

ON THE LATE MASSACRE 1 IN PIEDMONT. 

Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones 
Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold ; 
Even them that kept thy truth so pure of old, 
When all our fathers worshipped stocks and stones, 
Forget not ; in thy book record their groans, 
Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold 
Slain by the bloody Piedmontese, that rolled 
Mother and infant down the rocks. Their moans 
The vales redoubled to the hills, and they 
To heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes sow 
O'er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway 
The triple Tyrant : that from these may grow 

A hundred fold, who, having learned thy way, 
Early may fly the Babylonian woe. 

1 Organized by the Duke of Savoy, 1655. Cromwell ordered a general 
fast, and sent the survivors two hundred thousand dollars. 



SONNETS. 301 

ON HIS BLINDNESS. 

When I consider how my light is spent 

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, 
And that one talent, which is death to hide, 
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent 
To serve therewith my Maker, and present 
My true account, lest he, returning, chide ; 
" Doth God exact day labor, light denied ?" 
I fondly ask : but Patience, to prevent 
That murmur, soon replies, " God doth not need 
Either man's work, or his own gifts ; who best 
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best ; his state 
Is kingly ; thousands at his bidding speed, 

And post o'er land and ocean without rest ; 
They also serve who only stand and wait." 

ON HIS DECEASED WIFE. 1 

Methought I saw my late espoused saint 
Brought to me, like Alcestis, 2 from the grave, 
Whom Jove's great son 3 to her glad husband gave, 

Rescued from death by force, though pale and faint. 

Mine, as whom washed from spot of childbed taint 
Purification in the old law did save, 
And such as yet once more I trust to have 

Full sight of her in heaven without restraint, 

Came vested all in white, pure as her mind. 
Her face was veiled ; 4 yet, to my fancied sight, 

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined 
So clear, as in no face with more delight. 

But oh ! as to embrace me she inclined, 

I waked ; she fled ; and day brought back my night. 

1 Catherine, his second wife, died within a year after marriage. 2 Wife 
of Admetus. 3 Hercules. * As was Alcetis. 



LIFE OF JOHN MILTON. 



Little is known of great poets. They live of neces- 
. sity an other worldly life. Homer is a mere voice 
crying on the deserted shore. Dante seems a shade 
1 in the world of shadows, and Shakspeare has been 
described as " a munificent benefactor, who knocked 
at the door of the human family by night, threw in 
inestimable wealth, fled, and the sound of his footsteps 
was all the tidings he gave of himself.'' Milton moved, 
to be sure, in the great events of troublous and tra- 
vailing times, but the events and victories brought 
] forth for the race were so great that they hid the 
\ master thinkers who lifted the doers into prominence. 

John Milton was born Dec. 9, 1608. His father, in 
his early youth, had been disinherited for abjuring the 
errors of popery. Here is seen how his illustrious son 
might have inherited his love of liberty and right. 
The father was passionately fond of music. It is 
equally clear how his son inherited his aptness for 
metrical composition. 

From very early life Milton was a hard student, 
paying the price of genius by unwearied and persistent 
study. 

At the age of twenty-one he wrote the " Hymn on 
the Morning of Christ's Nativity." He lived with his 
302 



LIFE OF JOHN MILTON. 303 

father from the age of twenty-four t< thirty. Dur- 
ing this time he wrote " L' Allegro," " Penseroso," 
"Arcades," " Lycidas," and " Comus." 

Soon after the death of his loved mother in 1637, 
he visited the Continent, making the acquaintance and 
%inning the friendship of such men as Grotius, the 
literati of Florence, Holstentius (the keeper of the 
Vatican library), Cardinal Barberini, Salvaggi, Manso 
(the patron of Tasso), and many other of the most 
eminent men of his time. 

Designing to visit his loved Greece, he heard of the 
political complications of his own country, and re- 
turned, saying, " I thought it base to be travelling for 
amusement abroad, while my fellow-citizens were fight- 
ing for liberty at home." 

He sat down in London to earn his bread by teach- 
ing, while he devoted his life to his country through 
the medium of the pen. He, earliest of men, saw 
that the pen is mightier than the sword. 

In 1 64 1 his "Treatise on Reformation," vigorously 
defending Puritan ideas, was published. The same 
year appeared his " Confutation of Symectymnuus," a 
defence of Prelatical Episcopacy. Three other trea- 
tises on kindred themes followed. 

In 1643, at the age of thirty-five, he married Mary 
Powell, who deserted him in a month, returned his 
letters unopened, had his messenger dismissed from 
the house with contempt, but returned in penitence 
and tears, to be kindly received and tenderly loved. 
But in the interval, Milton, deeply stung, had pub- 
lished four treatises on divorce, whose loose doctrines 
cannot be commended. 



304 LIFE OF JOHN MILTON. 

In 1644 his masterly " Areopagitica : a Speech for 
the Liberty of Unlicensed Printing " appeared. It was 
most masterly, and far in advance of his age. 

The execution of Charles I. on the 30th of January, 
1648, shows the temper of Milton's mind. While 
others were struck with horror, he calmly showed in 
his work entitled " The Tenure of Kings and Magis- 
trates," "that it is lawful, and hath been held so 
through all ages, for any who have the power to call 
to account a tyrant or a wicked king." 

He was appointed secretary of the new government 
to conduct its correspondence with foreign nations. 
He not only did this ably, but continued to publish 
works in the interests of liberty, till in 1651 he pro- 
duce his " Defence of the English People." It should 
never be forgotten that this work was written in the 
spirit of a martyr. His physicians had forewarned him 
that the use of his eyes for this work would result in 
total blindness. In this clear conviction he wrote the 
"Defence," laying his precious eyes and his all of 
earthly light on his country's altar. Alluding to this 
sacrifice, he says in a sonnet to his friend Cyriac 
Skinner, — 

" Yet I argue not 

Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot 
Of heart or hope, but still bear up and steer 

Right onward. What supports me ? dost thou ask ? 
The conscience, friend, to have lost them overplied 

In Liberty's defence. My noble task 
Of which all Europe rings from side to side." 

In this same year (1651) his wife died, leaving three 
young daughters. 



LIFE OF JOHN MILTON. 305 

In 1654 Milton married Miss Catherine Woodcock. 
To this woman Milton owed one year of perfect 
wedded bliss, and we the most exquisite passages of 
" Paradise Lost." That poem could not have been 
without her. It could have had its devils, thunderous 
noises, and hell ; but there could have been no Para- 
dise or Eve without her. 

" Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, 
In every gesture dignity and love." 

Hers were 

" Those graceful acts, 
Those thousand decencies, that daily flow 
From all her words and actions." 

Cromwell dying in 1658, Milton came forward the 
following year with three other treatises in the interest 
of the liberties of his country which he saw were com- 
ing into increasing peril. He did not hide himself 
from the storm that was gathering. May, 1660, brought 
the restoration of monarchy in the person of Charles 
II. Every disadvantage and even peril of life came 1 
to Milton. His books were condemned to be burned 
by the hangman, his precious . wife was dead, his 
daughters unkind, his country enslaved. It was dur- . 
ing this time that he wrote the most of " Paradise 
Lost." It occupied most of his time from two years 
before, till five years after, the Restoration. 

In 16 7 1 he published "Paradise Regained," which 
has never been appreciated as highly as it deserved. 

After patient suffering, on a quiet sabbath day — 



306 LIFE OF JOHN MILTON. 

" Heaven opened wide 
Her ever during gates, harmonious sound 
On golden hinges moving," 

and he rendered his spirit back to God by a "silent 
expiration" on the 8th of November, 1674. We are 
tempted to follow that spirit through the veil. But 
even Milton's powers were not enough to faintly ima- 
gine what eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have 
entered the heart of man — the things God hath pre- 
pared for them that love him. God may have sur- 
prised him with the words Milton says he addressed 
to Abdiel after his single-handed conflict with Satan 
and all the rebel host : — 

" Servant of God, well done ! well hast thou fought 
The better fight, who single has maintained 
Against revolted multitudes the course 
Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms, 
And for the testimony of truth hast borne 
Universal reproach, far worse to bear 
Than violence." 

A brief statement of his personal appearance, and 
some examples of his prose style, shall close these 
absorbingly interesting studies. In his youth he was 
extremely handsome. He was of middle size, neither 
lean nor corpulent, his limbs well proportioned, ner- 
vous, active, serviceable in all respects to his exercis- 
ing with the sword, in which he greatly delighted ; his 
skin was fresh and fair, his eyes gray, features regular, 
hair light brown, parted in the middle and hanging in 
curls to his shoulders. In food and drink he was ex- 
tremely temperate ; his studies were regulated by a 



LIFE OF JOHN MILTON. 307 

severe and exact system. His delight was in music, 
and his favorite instrument, of course, the organ, — 

" Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds." 

Religion and liberty were the master passions of the 
soul. His personal piety was never questioned. His 
studies were a perpetual prayer. 

We may judge this prince of men by his sublime 
poems, for he says, — 

" I was confirmed in this opinion, that he who would not be 
frustrate of his hope to write well hereafter in laudable things 
ought himself to be a true poem; that is, a composition and pat- 
tern of the best and honorablest things ; not presuming to sing of 
high praises, of heroic men, or famous cities, unless he have in 
himself the experience and the practice of all that which is 
praiseworthy." (Prose works, vol. i. p. 237.) 

Here is part of a letter written before his thirtieth 
year to an Italian friend. 

" As to other points, what God may have determined for 
me I know not ; but this I know, if he ever instilled an intense 
love of moral beauty into the breast of any man, he has in- 
stilled it into mine. Ceres in the fable pursued not her daugh- 
ter with a greater keenness of inquiry than I day and night the 
idea of perfection. . . . 

" I enroll myself among the number of those who acknowl- 
edge the Word of God alone as the rule of faith." 

At the close of his first work, the one on "The 
Reformation of England," he says, " Having lifted up 
hands to that eternal and propitious throne where 
nothing is readier than grace and refuge to the dis- 
tresses of moral suppliants," and prayed God to finish 
the work of civil and religious emancipation, he says, — 



308 LIFE OF JOHN MILTON. 

" Then amidst the hymns and hallelujahs of saints, some one 
may perhaps be heard, offering at high strains in new and lofty 
measures, to sing and celebrate thy divine mercies and marvel- 
lous judgments in this land throughout all ages, whereby this 
great and warlike nation, instructed and inured to the fervent 
and continual practice of truth and righteousness, and casting 
far from her the rags of her old vices, may press on hard to 
that high and happy emulation to be found the soberest, wisest, 
and most Christian people at that day when thou, the eternal 
and shortly expected King, shall open the clouds to judge 
the several kingdoms of the world, and, distributing national 
honors and rewards to religious and just commonwealths, shall 
put an end to all earthly tyrannies, proclaiming thy universal 
and mild monarchy through earth and heaven ; where they 
undoubtedly, that by their labors, counsels, and prayers have 
been earnest for the common good of their religion and coun< 
try, shall receive, above the inferior orders of the blessed, the 
regal addition of principalities, legions, and thrones into their 
glorious titles, and, in supereminence of beatific vision, pro- 
gressing the dateless and irrevoluble circle of eternity, shall 
clasp inseparable hands, with joy and bliss in overmeasure 
forever." (Vol. i. 69-70.) 



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